Tesis sobre el tema "Intermittent streams"

Dynamic expansions and contractions of stream networks can play an important role for hydrologic processes as they can connect different parts of the landscape to the stream channels. However, we know little about the temporal and spatial variations of stream networks during different flow and wetness conditions. This study focuses on the contraction and expansion of stream networks during different flow conditions in the boreal Krycklan catchment, located in Northern Sweden. The stream network and initiation points were extracted from a gridded digital elevation model (DEM) of 5-meter resolution, and then compared with the stream network initiation points (heads) observed during the spring flood (freshet) period in 2012. From the results of the study, it was clearly seen that the observed stream heads and the stream heads appearing in the stream network map extracted from DEM did not agree very well. 49% of the total observed stream heads (49) fell onto the low order stream branches and headwater streams derived from the DEM. Only few of them exactly matched the modeled stream heads. Moreover, the modeled stream network was much denser than the observed stream network, and so the simple raster based dynamic model developed could not well represent the dynamic stream network extension in the real system. Most headwater streams in the study catchment were man-made ditches, which were dug to drain water wetlands and to increase forest productivity. The majority of observed stream heads were formed by seepage from the saturated surrounding soils, while only a few of them were formed by saturation overland flow.  On the other hand, the dynamic stream network derived from the DEM suggested that the number of streams of lower order and their lengths was sensitive to change in streamflow, especially during the high flow episode.

Intermittent streams that cease to flow for some period of most years are prevalent across global river networks. Their spatial extent is projected to increase in regions experiencing drying trends related to climate change and water extraction for human uses. Intermittent streams sustain biodiversity by hosting a unique combination of aquatic, amphibious, and terrestrial assemblages as a result of their wet and dry phases. Compared to perennial streams, the ecological values of intermittent streams are not well-appreciated or understood, and thus intermittent streams are less commonly incorporated into policy, management, and regulatory decisions. As research on intermittent streams is increasing, there have been strident calls for better recognition and protection of intermittent streams. This thesis aims to develop new methods to address some key issues related to spatio-temporal dynamics and hydro-ecology of intermittent streams, with a focus on eastern Australia. River channel drying caused by intermittent stream flow is a widely-recognised factor shaping stream ecosystems. There is a strong need to quantify spatio-temporal variations in the hydrology of intermittent streams over broad spatial scales to inform ecological understanding and management. This is challenging because observational stream gauges are sparsely distributed and provide only point estimates of discharge. In this study, I developed models to simulate monthly discharge across river catchments. Due to the common issue of over-estimating low flows in discharge simulations, I also identified appropriate zero flow thresholds to mitigate this uncertainty. I quantified spatial and temporal patterns of flow intermittency for every stream segment within river networks of five major catchments in south-eastern Queensland (SEQ), eastern Australia. Results showed that the temporal dynamics of flow intermittency varied dramatically inter-annually over the period of 1900-2016, with the proportion of intermittent streams ranging in length from 3 % to nearly 100% of river networks, but there was no evidence of an increasing trend towards flow intermittency over this period. This approach to generating spatially explicit and catchment-wide estimates of streamflow intermittency can facilitate improved ecological understanding and management of intermittent streams. Compared with monthly discharge simulations, daily discharge simulations can provide more detailed representation of the dynamic aspects of hydrological processes and potentially enables more ecologically relevant characterisation of hydrology. However, models of daily stream flow are more complex and often need to take river routing processes into account. I developed models to simulate daily stream flows for contiguous sub-catchments across entire river networks in two hydro-climatically distinctive regions (SEQ vs. the Tamar River II catchment). I evaluated the models in terms of their ability to represent different ecologically important components of flow regime and quantified environmental correlates of differences in model accuracy within and between regions. The models showed generally good performance in both regions. However, average- and high flows were better predicted than low flows in SEQ because it is difficult to represent climate and hydrogeological processes influencing the low-flow part of the hydrograph. Spatial variation in flow characteristics revealed the highly dynamic nature of flow permanence in space and time, with intermittent flows affecting between 29% and 80% of the river network over the period of 1911-2017. I discuss the pros and cons of the applications of modelled monthly and daily flows, and conclude that the appropriate choice of modelling time step depends on the primary objectives of the research. The monthly time-step is suitable for quantifying ecologically relevant spatial and temporal variations in streamflow intermittency, but may be insufficient for studies aimed at quantifying ecological responses to short term flow events. The hydrological variability of intermittent streams poses challenges for resident aquatic biota which require access to permanent surface water-bodies to persist during dry spells and to recolonise suitable habitats when flows resume. However, research to quantify the dynamics and environmental determinants of variation in surface water extent is usually conducted over limited spatial and/or temporal extents. One of the biggest barriers to this kind of research is the difficulty in obtaining observed data of surface water extent across river networks. In this study, I demonstrated a newly-developed field method for rapid surface water assessment, and then developed predictive models relating observed water extent to environmental attributes at 241 surveyed stream segments in SEQ. I used the models to predict daily variations in surface water dynamics throughout entire river networks over the past century, based on available long-term environmental attributes. Descriptors of surface water extent could be accurately modelled, with good internal and external validation performance. Long-term variations in surface water extent were highly dynamic through space and time, although the overall length of river networks with surface water remained relatively stable from year to year. This study provides valuable insights into the potential priority conservation areas for aquatic biota across the study region. Systematic conservation prioritisation methods are increasingly being applied to freshwater ecosystems to identify candidate areas for ecosystem management and biodiversity protection. However, applications with emphasis on intermittent streams are scarce. The hydrological variability of intermittent streams means that the spatial distribution of dry season aquatic refuges within river networks and the temporal dynamics of hydrological connectivity between them are critical for the persistence of aquatic biodiversity. I developed a new approach to incorporating both surface water persistence and hydrological connectivity into systematic conservation prioritisation in intermittent streams. I also included multiple freshwater fish species distributions as explicit targets for habitat prioritisation, and incorporated estimates of their relative mobility to maximise potentially re-colonisable stream length from refuges. Compared with the situation without mobility, the inclusion of species mobility could significantly reduce the number of aquatic refuges required to meet the set conservation targets. High priority aquatic refuges were widely distributed across the study river networks, encompassing streams in various orders from main stems to headwaters. The research can help enhance both the resistance and resilience of freshwater biodiversity in intermittent stream ecosystems. The thesis concludes with practical learnings from these modelling studies for intermittent stream research and management, namely, 1) that discharge simulations (monthly or daily) throughout river networks confirmed the prevalence of intermittent streams and revealed the highly dynamic nature of flow intermittency over space and time; 2) that spatial and temporal dynamics of surface water availability within stream reaches can be modelled through the combination of observed surface water extent with long-term environmental attributes; and 3) that systematic prioritisation of aquatic refuges by incorporating both surface water persistence and hydrological connectivity enables to efficiently meet conservation targets for species representation and cost-effective conservation management. The thesis also concludes with future challenges and directions for intermittent stream research.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School of Environment and Sc
Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology
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[Truncated abstract] Most of Australia, and large areas of many other continents, is drained by intermittent rivers and streams, however comparatively few biogeochemical studies have been completed for these systems. Intermittent, dryland streams are highly dynamic environments subject to unpredictable and sporadic flow. Natural disturbance from lengthy drought periods and sudden floods are typical for these systems. Without adequate baselines for natural disturbances, it is difficult to quantify other effects from anthropogenic disturbance such as dewatering, land clearing, and urbanisation, or climate change. This thesis presents work from a four-year study examining the biogeochemistry of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and carbon (C) in soils and sediments of two intermittent streams (Barnett Creek and Pirraburdoo Creek) in the Pilbara region of north-west Australia. The Pilbara is an area of ancient geology and highly weathered environments that is undergoing rapid development yet is poorly understood from an ecological perspective. The principal objectives of this thesis were to determine: i) how flooding affects the spatiotemporal patterns of nutrients in intermittent stream landscapes; ii) the role of flooding in N and C mineralisation and microbial dynamics; and iii) the connections between benthic algae, microbes and nutrient availability in channel sediments. To address these objectives, three field studies and two incubation experiments were conducted. Field studies at Barnett Creek indicated that flooding reduced the spatial heterogeneity of available soil nutrients and microbes in the stream landscape, and that topography (relative elevation) in the stream landscape was of less importance in influencing nutrient and microbial patterns than flooding or landscape position. ... Field studies at Pirraburdoo Creek indicated that microbial biomass and activity increased in benthic algal mats during mat senescent stages, and decreased after flooding when mat biomass peaked. Benthic algae grew rapidly in gravel run environments after flooding, while declining in pools, and demonstrated moderate N limitation and strong P limitation. Pools had two to eight times greater NO3-N, three to five times more total N, and two to three times more labile P, OC and total C than either pools after flooding, or runs before or after flooding. Hence, the pools at Pirraburdoo Creek represented a local, interflood store of nutrients in otherwise nutrient-poor landscape, when connectivity to upstream reaches or upland environments was weak or non-existent. This thesis provides the first detailed analysis of soil and sediment biogeochemical responses to flooding for intermittent streams in the Pilbara region and for semi-arid Australia. Further pressing questions raised by this work include: What is the key pulse size and frequency for maintaining Pilbara riparian communities as well as soil microbial function? How do the spatio-temporal nutrient and microbial patterns observed persist over (i) multi-decadal scales, (ii) mega-spatial (larger landscape to regional) scales, (iii) different flood frequency-magnitude regimes, and (iv) different stream sizes? Stream biogeochemistry is a burgeoning field, and it is therefore reasonable to expect such existing gaps in knowledge may be addressed in the near future.

Ephemeral streams with spatially and temporally variable flow are important ecological settings in semi-arid desert environments that until now have been poorly characterized. Our quantitative analysis explores how intermittent stream hydrology varies across geomorphic (mountain streams to desert washes) and climatic gradients (150-400 mm precipitation) in Southern Arizona. Stream channels were instrumented for the first time with a co-deployment of vertical profiles of subsurface temperature sensors, and electrical resistance (ER) sensors on the bed surface. HYDRUS 1-D was used to simulate vertical unsaturated flow, and differences along hydrologic, topographic, and climatic gradients were compared. Annual surface water presence varied < 1%-82% of the year, and reach-normalized infiltration water volumes were 20,000-2,500,000 m³/(km y). Surface water presence was correlated with geomorphic gradient, and infiltration volumes were correlated with surface water presence. This sensor co-deployment method has shown that ER sensors alone are necessary to estimate infiltration in semi-arid, poorly-sorted, coarse desert channels.

Headwater streams are extremely vulnerable to the consequences of land-use change as they are tightly coupled with the surrounding landscape. Understanding the natural processes that influence the structure and function of these ecosystems will improve our understanding of how land-use change affects them. Benthic substratum habitat was investigated in a sub-tropical headwater stream by quantifying temporal change to sediment texture of surface sediments (less than 10cm), over four years. Hydrological characteristics were also surveyed in detail, as hydrological regime is a primary determinant of sediment transportation. Additionally, measures of hydro-geological features - hydraulic conductivity and groundwater depth were made in order to explore features of sediment habitat that extend beyond the sediment-water interface. Whilst the typical discharge pattern was one of intermittent base flows and infrequent, yet extreme flood events associated with monsoonal rain patterns, the study period also encompassed a drought and a one in hundred year flood. Rainfall and discharge did not necessarily reflect the actual conditions in the stream. Surface waters were persistent long after discharge ceased. On several occasions the stream bed was completely dry. Shallow groundwater was present at variable depths throughout the study period, being absent only at the height of the drought. The sediments were mainly gravels, sand and clay. Changes in sediment composition were observed for fine particulates (size categories less than 2mm). The grain size change in the finer sediment fractions was marked over time, although bedload movement was limited to a single high discharge event. In response to a low discharge regimen (drought), sediments characteristically showed non-normal distributions and were dominated by finer materials. High-energy discharge regimes (flood) were characterised by coarsening of sands and a diminished clay fraction. Particulate organic matter from sediments showed trends of build-up and decline with the high and low discharge regimes, respectively. Benthic habitats were described according to prevailing hydro-geological parameters. Faunas from sediment substratum samples were associated with identified habitat categories. The fauna reflected the habitat variability in terms of hydrological disturbance of the substratum structure and intermittency of discharge. An applied multivariate procedure was used to correlate temporally changing environmental parameters and faunal abundance data. Faunas were correlated with a group of variables dominated by either discharge variables or sediment textural parameters. Sediment characteristics that affect substratum quality and substratum preference at the micro-scale were investigated via hypotheses testing. A model of carbon loss was used to determine how long particulate organic matter could potentially sustain microbial activity under experimental conditions. An estimate of up to 200 days was determined from this laboratory experiment. Secondly, enriched carbon isotopes were used in a field-based experiment to establish a link between sediments and macrofauna. Enrichment via organic sediments was found for various detritivorous and carnivorous taxa. In the 'third' experiment, artificial treatments were applied to elucidate substratum preference. Fauna was offered the choice of variable quantities of clay and/or quality of organic matter. There were no significant preferences found for the different substratum treatments, although further investigation is needed and a different outcome from this method may be achieved under more benign field conditions than those encountered during this experiment. Finally, the study was set within a context of the primary features of scale. Climate and hydrological features, including linkages with the alluvial aquifer and terrestrial ecosystem, and their potential to change within 'ecological time' are perceived as critical to understanding the role of benthic sediment substratum.

Headwater streams are extremely vulnerable to the consequences of land-use change as they are tightly coupled with the surrounding landscape. Understanding the natural processes that influence the structure and function of these ecosystems will improve our understanding of how land-use change affects them. Benthic substratum habitat was investigated in a sub-tropical headwater stream by quantifying temporal change to sediment texture of surface sediments (less than 10cm), over four years. Hydrological characteristics were also surveyed in detail, as hydrological regime is a primary determinant of sediment transportation. Additionally, measures of hydro-geological features - hydraulic conductivity and groundwater depth were made in order to explore features of sediment habitat that extend beyond the sediment-water interface. Whilst the typical discharge pattern was one of intermittent base flows and infrequent, yet extreme flood events associated with monsoonal rain patterns, the study period also encompassed a drought and a one in hundred year flood. Rainfall and discharge did not necessarily reflect the actual conditions in the stream. Surface waters were persistent long after discharge ceased. On several occasions the stream bed was completely dry. Shallow groundwater was present at variable depths throughout the study period, being absent only at the height of the drought. The sediments were mainly gravels, sand and clay. Changes in sediment composition were observed for fine particulates (size categories less than 2mm). The grain size change in the finer sediment fractions was marked over time, although bedload movement was limited to a single high discharge event. In response to a low discharge regimen (drought), sediments characteristically showed non-normal distributions and were dominated by finer materials. High-energy discharge regimes (flood) were characterised by coarsening of sands and a diminished clay fraction. Particulate organic matter from sediments showed trends of build-up and decline with the high and low discharge regimes, respectively. Benthic habitats were described according to prevailing hydro-geological parameters. Faunas from sediment substratum samples were associated with identified habitat categories. The fauna reflected the habitat variability in terms of hydrological disturbance of the substratum structure and intermittency of discharge. An applied multivariate procedure was used to correlate temporally changing environmental parameters and faunal abundance data. Faunas were correlated with a group of variables dominated by either discharge variables or sediment textural parameters. Sediment characteristics that affect substratum quality and substratum preference at the micro-scale were investigated via hypotheses testing. A model of carbon loss was used to determine how long particulate organic matter could potentially sustain microbial activity under experimental conditions. An estimate of up to 200 days was determined from this laboratory experiment. Secondly, enriched carbon isotopes were used in a field-based experiment to establish a link between sediments and macrofauna. Enrichment via organic sediments was found for various detritivorous and carnivorous taxa. In the ‘third’ experiment, artificial treatments were applied to elucidate substratum preference. Fauna was offered the choice of variable quantities of clay and/or quality of organic matter. There were no significant preferences found for the different substratum treatments, although further investigation is needed and a different outcome from this method may be achieved under more benign field conditions than those encountered during this experiment. Finally, the study was set within a context of the primary features of scale. Climate and hydrological features, including linkages with the alluvial aquifer and terrestrial ecosystem, and their potential to change within ‘ecological time’ are perceived as critical to understanding the role of benthic sediment substratum.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Australian School of Environmental Studies
Faculty of Environmental Sciences
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Despite a rising interest in intermittent river systems, landscape influences on long-term wetting and drying patterns of streamflow are not well understood. There has been a significant increase in the presence of intermittent rivers worldwide due to climate change and subsequent increases in groundwater abstraction, and these effects are intensified in already arid regions such as the American Southwest. Consequently, the spatial extent of wet and dry reaches of Arizona’s Agua Fria River, Cienega Creek, and San Pedro River has been documented by citizen scientists for several years. Citizen science involves the use of trained members of the public for data collection, and the analysis of datasets produced from citizen science projects have become a huge asset to the scientific community. Here, we synthesize the most current data (1999–2016) to determine what stream and valley characteristics act as drivers for patterns of surface water flow. Geologic, geomorphic, and land cover characteristics of these rivers were analyzed via aerial imagery and Digital Elevation Models within ArcGIS 10.3 in conjunction with the Soil and Water Assessment Tool model. Principal Component Analysis was used in order to assess trends across sites. A set of landscape intermittency metrics was produced and then further analyzed using Multiple Linear Regression. We found that land cover had a significant (p-value < 0.01) positive correlation with reach average (i.e., the proportion of channel wet). Physical watershed and channel characteristics each had a negative correlation with both intermittency metrics (i.e., wet/dry status and reach average). However, their results were not significant to the 0.05 level. This study begins to shed light on the drivers of landscape intermittency patterns of desert streams and demonstrates the utility of citizen science in regard to the study of intermittent river systems.

Les cours d’eau intermittents sont des cours d’eau qui cessent de couler à un moment donné dans l’espace et le temps. Cependant, la compréhension de la variabilité spatio-temporelle des cours d’eau intermittents ainsi que leur localisation précise dans le réseau hydrographique reste limitée en raison d’un manque de données (hydrométriques, hydrographiques, etc.…). Ces difficultés sont accentuées dans les régions à données limitées comme l’Afrique et cette thèse vise principalement à développer des approches méthodologiques qui s'appuient sur des modèles de forêts aléatoires (Random Forest) ainsi que des analyses statistiques pour caractériser la distribution spatiale des cours d’eau intermittents et mieux appréhender les mécanismes de contrôle de l’intermittence en Afrique afin de pallier les lacunes d’observations. D’abord, cette thèse s’est focalisée à l’échelle régionale au Burkina Faso où 49 stations de jaugeage des cours d’eau avec au minimum quatre ans de données sur la période 1955-1985 ont été examinées. Le nombre moyen de mois à débit nul par an ((Ndry) ̅) a été utilisé pour définir quatre classes croissantes d'intermittence du débit à savoir : permanent (0-1 mois à débit nul), faiblement intermittent (2-4), fortement intermittent (5-7), éphémère (8-12). Une analyse en composante principale (ACP) réalisée sur les 49 stations de jaugeages a montré que, bien que l’ordre de Strahler et la précipitation moyenne annuelle influencent la répartition géographique des différentes classes d’intermittence au Burkina Faso, la perméabilité moyenne et la surface amont des bassins versants expliquent principalement cette répartition. Cette étude suggère que la saisonnalité de la précipitation au Burkina Faso rend également saisonnier l’écoulement des cours d’eau à moins que les processus hydrogéologiques ne soient impliqués, notamment à travers la contribution des aquifères au débit de base pendant les périodes d’étiage. L’approche de prédiction par Random Forest a permis d’estimer sur le réseau hydrographique LCS que 83% de la longueur totale des cours d’eau au Burkina Faso sont intermittents contre 98% dans le réseau hydrographique nationale de référence (IGB-BNDT). Ensuite, à l’échelle de l’Afrique, 1125 stations de jaugeage avec au moins 4 ans de données sont examinées sur la période 1958-1991. Plusieurs modèles Random Forest ont été entrainés à relier les classes d’intermittence observée au droit des stations de jaugeage aux valeurs caractéristiques de 15 variables environnementales clés identifiées. L’indice d’aridité (P/ETP), la surface amont des bassins versants et l’évapotranspiration potentielle moyenne annuelle ont été identifiés comme les facteurs de contrôle les plus importants de l’intermittence à l’échelle continentale de l’Afrique. Cela se confirme d’autant plus que la majorité des stations classées intermittentes dans l’échantillon analysé ont des valeurs d’évapotranspiration potentielle moyenne annuelle qui sont supérieures à la précipitation moyenne annuelle (c.-à-d. indice d’aridité < 1). Cette étude prédit sur le réseau hydrographique LCS qu’en Afrique 44 % en longueur des cours d’eau sont permanents tandis que 56 % sont intermittents (9 % faiblement intermittents, 31 % fortement intermittents, 16 % éphémères). Les prédictions du modèle capturent en général la distribution spatiale de l’intermittence dans les réseaux hydrographiques nationaux de référence de l’Afrique du Sud, du Bénin, de Madagascar, du Mali et un peu moins au Burkina Faso. Enfin, cette thèse s’est appesantie sur les difficultés des réseaux hydrographiques globaux et continentaux à reproduire la variabilité spatiale de la densité de drainage observée sur les réseaux hydrographiques nationaux de référence des différents pays en Afrique. Une méthode simple pour extraire les cours d’eau des MNT (Modèle Numérique de Terrain) à partir de surface contributive (Amin) variable spatialement a été développée
Intermittent rivers are rivers that stop flowing at some point in space and time. However, the understanding of the spatio-temporal variability of intermittent rivers as well as their precise location in the hydrographic network remains limited due to a lack of data (hydrometric, hydrographic, etc..). These difficulties are accentuated in data-limited regions such as Africa and this thesis aims to develop methodological approaches that rely on Random Forest models and statistical analyses to characterize the spatial distribution of intermittent rivers and to better understand the controlling factors of intermittency in Africa in order to overcome the observation gaps. Firstly, this thesis focused on the regional scale in Burkina Faso where 49 stream gauging stations with at least four years of data over the period 1955-1985 were examined. The mean number of months with zero flow per year ((Ndry) ̅) was used as a predictor to define four increasing classes of flow intermittency namely: permanent (0-1 months with zero flow), weakly intermittent (2-4), highly intermittent (5-7), ephemeral (8-12). A principal component analysis (PCA) performed on 49 gauging stations showed that, although the Strahler order and the average annual precipitation influence the geographical distribution of the different intermittency classes in Burkina Faso, the average permeability and the upstream catchment area mainly explain this distribution. This study suggests that the seasonality of precipitation in Burkina Faso also makes streamflow seasonal regardless of mean annual precipitation unless hydrogeological processes are involved, notably through the contribution of aquifers to baseflow during low-flow periods. The Random Forest model estimated that 88% of the total length of the rivers in Burkina Faso are intermittent compared to 98% in the national reference hydrographic databases (IGB-BNDT). Secondly, at the African scale, 1125 gauging stations with at least 4 years of data are examined over the period 1958-1991. Several Random Forest models were trained to relate the classes of intermittency observed at the gauging stations to the characteristic values of the key environmental variables identified (15). This model calibration identified, in order of importance, the aridity index (P/ETP), upstream catchment area, and mean annual potential evapotranspiration as the most important controlling factors of intermittency at the continental scale in Africa. This is further confirmed by the fact that the majority of gauges stations classified as intermittent in the sample analyzed have mean annual potential evapotranspiration values that are higher than the mean annual precipitation (i.e, aridity index < 1). This study predicts that in Africa 44% of the river length is permanent while 56% is intermittent (9% weakly intermittent, 31% highly intermittent, 16% ephemeral). The model predictions generally capture the spatial distribution of intermittency in the national reference hydrographic database of South Africa, Benin, Madagascar, and Mali somewhat less so in Burkina Faso. Finally, this thesis focused on the difficulties of global and continental river networks to reproduce the spatial variability of the observed drainage density in the national reference hydrographic database of different countries in Africa. A simple method for extracting streams from DEM (Digital Elevation Model) with a spatially variable contributing area (Amin) was developed

The amount of dissolved inorganic nitrogen delivered to streams and groundwater has substantially increased in the last decades due to anthropogenic impacts. This fact has stimulated research on processes related to the nitrogen cycling in order to elucidate the ability of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in controlling nitrogen loads. Some of these studies pointed out during storms streamwater chemistry is significantly altered. However, because of the inherent difficulty of an extensive field experimental setting for dealing with episodic storms, studies focused on hydrological processes or stream solute dynamics during storms rely on a very limited number of events. Hydrobiogeochemical processes have been mainly studied in temperate experimental catchments and little attention has been paid to Mediterranean catchments. Recent studies have stressed the fragility of Mediterranean regions in front of the global change and because of that Mediterranean regions should become hot spots for present and future studies.
The main goal of the present thesis was to study the variability of nutrient dynamics, in particular nitrogen, during stormflow in relation to baseflow conditions in Fuirosos, an intermittent stream draining a small Mediterranean catchment (Part I). As a secondary objective (Part II), solute dynamics in Fuirosos were compared with those measured at one of its main tributaries, the Grimola stream. Biotitic granodiorite was an important fraction of the Fuirosos catchment, whereas the Grimola catchment was underlain by leucogranite. The Fuirosos stream had an alluvial zone and it was flanked by a well developed riparian forest, whereas the Grimola stream had not a significant alluvial zone, neither a well developed riparian area. Thereby, the effect of (i) catchment size, (ii) lithology and (iii) the presence of an alluvial-riparian zone on stream hydrogrochemistry were assessed by comparing the Fuirosos and Grimola streams.
The Fuirosos Stream Watershed, a relatively undisturbed Mediterranean ecosystem that can not be considered a N-saturated catchment, leaks to the stream most of the nitrogen loss in the form of nitrate (57 %). This figure contrast with that reported for other pristine tropical and humid catchments where nitrogen export is mainly in the form of dissolved organic nitrogen. In particular, nitrate is mainly mobilized during stormflow conditions (from 52 % to 80 % of the annual yield). Contrastingly, most of the dissolved organic carbon export occurs during baseflow conditions (from 40 to 70 % of the annual yield). These results point to a decoupling between soil nitrification and nutrient uptake by biota, which brings about the leaking of nitrate to the stream. Hydrochemistry in this Mediterranean intermittent stream is highly variable within and in between years. The antecedent moisture conditions and the magnitude of storm events are key factors on shaping the hydrological responses to storm events. However, storm episodes that occur during similar climatological and hydrological conditions produce different streamwater chemistry depending upon the time of the year. This is so, mainly because of the influence of the summer drought period on streamwater chemistry. Both, the mixing model (EMMA) and the spectral analysis approaches, point out that groundwater is the most important contributor to stormflow in Fuirosos. Nonetheless, the EMMA approach emphasizes how stream water and nitrate sources vary throughout the year. Our results stress the importance of sampling storms during all seasons to draw general conclusions about watershed processes. The mixing model shows that nitrate is retained by biota in the Fuirosos alluvial zone only when streamflow is lower than 80 l/s. Above this threshold, the system is not efficient in retaining nitrate arriving from the catchment. This result might be keep on mind when establishing the importance of near- and in-stream processes for regulating catchment nitrate loads since a major fraction of the annual nitrate export usually occurs during stormflow conditions in many catchments. The spectral analysis also shows that the variability of stream nitrate concentrations is more damped in Fuirosos than in Grimola. This is attributed to the buffer effect that biota has on nitrate concentrations in the Fuirosos alluvial zone, which retards its delivery in relation to the Grimola catchment.
"Efecte de les pluges en la dinàmica del nitrogen en una riera intermitent i mediterrània"

La quantitat de nitrogen dissolt que arriba avui dia als nostres rius i aqüífers és substancialment major a la de fa un parell de dècades a resultes de l'activitat antròpica. Aquest fet ha estimulat força la recerca dels processos relacionats amb el ciclatge del nitrogen, amb la intenció d'esbrinar la capacitat que tenen els ecosistemas terrestres i aquàtics per controlar les càrregues de nitrat que els hi arriben. Alguns d'aquests estudis indiquen que durant les tempestes s'altera de forma substancial la química de l'aigua del riu. Això no obstant, la major part dels treballs realitzats es recolzen en un nombre limitat d'episodis, donada la dificultat inherent al mostreig intensiu de camp a l'hora d'estudiar les respostes hidrològiques i la dinàmica dels soluts durant les crescudes. Tradicionalment, la comunitat científica s'ha dedicat a l'estudi dels processos hidrobiogeoquímics de regions temperades i tropicals, i desafortunadament, les conques Mediterrànies no han estat objecte de la seva atenció. Estudis recents alerten de la fragilitat de les regions Mediterrànies enfront del canvi global, i per tant, urgeixen els estudis focalitzats en aquests ecosistemes.
El principal objectiu d'aquesta tesi ha estat l'estudi de la variabilitat de la dinàmica dels nutrients, en particular del nitrogen, durant les crescudes en relació a la seva dinàmica en condicions de cabal basal en una riera intermitent, Fuirosos, en una conca Mediterrània. La hidrologia i la dinàmica dels soluts a la riera de Fuirosos s'ha comparat amb les de la Grimola, un dels seus efluents més importants. Hi ha diferències litològiques notables entre les dues conques. A més la riera de Fuirosos té zona al.luvial i està flanquejada per un bosc de ribera ben desenvolupat, mentre que la riera de Grimola no té zona al.luvial ni tampoc una zona riberenca ben diferenciada. Per tant, els efectes de (i) la mida de la conca, (ii) la litologia, i (iii) la presència d'una zona al.luvial i riberenca sobre la hidrobiogeoquímica d'un riu, van poder ésser contrastats comparant les rieres de Fuirosos i Grimola. L'estudi es va realitzar al Parc Natural del Montnegre-Corredor al Vallès Oriental entre els anys 1998 i 2004.

Abstract Community assembly results from a combination of deterministic and stochastic mechanisms, whose relative effects can vary in response to environmental heterogeneity, connectivity, disturbance regimes and anthropogenic stressors. Understanding how community assembly mechanisms vary in response to environmental changes and connectivity is crucial for the management and conservation of river ecosystems. In this thesis, I tested the effects of connectivity and natural flow disturbances on riverine invertebrate communities by assessing assembly mechanism changes in response to (I) habitat connectivity, (II) seasonal flow intermittency and (III) inter–annual hydrological variability. I also conducted a field experiment to test for (IV) the effects of human–induced nutrient enrichment on community assembly of microorganisms (diatoms and aquatic fungi) and stream ecosystem functioning under different environmental settings. Invertebrate community assembly changed gradually with habitat connectivity. While limited dispersal resulted in higher community variability in the most isolated streams, mass effects caused community homogenization in the most connected ones. Natural and human induced disturbances lead to changes in the relative importance of deterministic and stochastic factors but often through different, or even opposite, mechanisms depending on the natural background of the ecosystem and organism type considered. For instance, seasonal drying and high–flow periods in intermittent Mediterranean rivers promoted deterministic and stochastic assembly processes respectively, whereas environmental sorting and stochastic processes respectively dominated during high and low flow years in boreal streams. Diatom and fungal communities responded differently to nutrient enrichment, with detrital processes and fungal communities responding more in naturally acidic than in circumneutral streams. The results of this thesis highlight the complexity of community assembly mechanisms: they tend to be highly context dependent and temporally variable. Therefore, stream bioassessment and conservation will benefit from explicitly incorporating connectivity and natural disturbance regimes. Assessing the interactive effects of connectivity and disturbances at the river network scale would provide a greater understanding of community assembly mechanisms and river ecosystem functioning
Tiivistelmä Eliöyhteisöjen koostumus heijastelee determinististen ja stokastisten mekanismien vuorovaikutusta. Niiden suhteellinen merkitys vaihtelee suhteessa yhteisöjen kytkeytyneisyyteen sekä luontaisiin ja ihmisen aiheuttamiin häiriöihin. Yhteisöjen säätelymekanismit vaihtelevat jokiverkoston eri osissa ja tietoa tästä vaihtelusta tarvitaan jokiekosysteemien hoidon kehittämiseksi. Tässä tutkielmassa testasin elinympäristöjen kytkeytyneisyyden ja luontaisten häiriöiden (virtaamavaihtelut) vaikutuksia jokien selkärangatonyhteisöihin. Suoritin myös kenttäkokeen, jossa testattiin ihmisen aiheuttaman rehevöitymisen vaikutuksia mikro–organismeihin (piilevät, mikrobit) ja ekosysteemitoimintoihin erilaisissa ympäristöoloissa (luontaisesti happamat vs. neutraalit purot). Selkärangattomien yhteisökoostumus muuttui asteittain jokiverkostossa. Yhteisökoostumuksen vaihtelu oli suurinta eristäytyneimmissä latvapuroissa, kun taas isommissa, uomaston keskivaiheilla sijaitsevissa koskissa voimakas levittäytyminen eri suunnista (ns. massatekijät) aiheutti yhteisöjen rakenteen homogenisoitumista. Kuivuusjaksot ja niitä seuraavat korkean virtaaman jaksot edistivät determinististen prosessien merkitystä Välimeren alueen joissa, kun taas boreaalisissa puroissa Pohjois–Suomessa äärevät virtaamaolot, erityisesti poikkeuksellisen kuivat kesät, edistivät satunnaismekanismien vaikutusta. Perustuottajat (piilevät) ja hajottajat (akvaattiset sienet) vastasivat eri tavoin ravinnelisäykseen. Sienten hajotustoiminta nopeutui ravinnelisäyksen myötä, mutta vain luontaisesti happamissa puroissa. Tämän opinnäytetyön tulokset korostavat yhteisön kokoonpanomekanismien monimutkaisuutta: ne ovat usein erittäin tilanneriippuvaisia ja ajallisesti vaihtelevia. Siksi jokien ekologisen tilan arvioinnissa tulisi huomioida tutkimuspaikkojen kytkeytyneisyys jokimaisemassa

Les biofilms phototrophes, principale signature trophique benthique des rivières à écoulement rapide, offrent un panel de services écologiques en lien avec les processus d'autoépuration (nitrates, pesticides, pollutions métalliques, etc.). Cependant, leur fonctionnement est fortement perturbé par les pressions anthropiques croissantes qu'ils subissent, notamment celles associées à la présence d'éléments traces métalliques (ETM) ou encore l'interruption séquentielle de l'écoulement de surface. Dans un contexte de changement global avéré, la réponse des communautés phototrophes est au centre des préoccupations pour la gestion de ces milieux, tant pour leur qualité chimique qu'écologique. L'objectif de ce travail de thèse est de comprendre les réponses physiologiques des microorganismes phototrophes benthiques à des facteurs d'environnement révélateurs de changements globaux (lumière, température, phosphore) ainsi qu'à l'application d'un multi- stress combinant l'exposition à des ETM (Cu et Zn, appliqués seuls ou en cocktail) suivie d'un assèchement prolongé du biofilm. Les réponses physiologiques sont centrées sur la biomasse, l'activité photosynthétique et la production d'EPS (substances polymériques extracellulaires), en abordant ces processus par l'aptitude de tolérance et de résilience des communautés. Le choix s'est porté sur trois espèces phototrophes benthiques, une cyanobactérie (Phormidium autumnale), une diatomée (Nitzschia palea) et une algue verte (Uronema confervicolum). Un système expérimental adapté à la culture en biofilm au sein de microcosmes à écoulement de surface libre (mini-canaux hydrauliques) a permis de contrôler l'ensemble des paramètres des expérimentations. La première étape a consisté à mettre au point une méthode d'extraction des EPS de la matrice de biofilm tout en préservant l'intégrité cellulaire des microorganismes phototrophes. L'analyse de la réponse physiologique de biofilms phototrophes mono-espèce face à une exposition au Cu et/ou au Zn a permis de montrer les différences de sensibilité des espèces phototrophes testées. Puis, la capacité de sorption du Cu par ces mêmes biofilms phototrophes s'est révélée être dépendante des facteurs environnementaux, via la modulation des EPS produites et de leur nature. Enfin, l'application d'un double-stress, conjuguant l'exposition au Cu suivie d'un assèchement du biofilm, permet également de mesurer des réponses de résilience lors de la remise en eau, elles-mêmes modulées par les facteurs environnementaux testés. Globalement, les biofilms phototrophes mono-espèce testés présentent des capacités de tolérance et de résilience différentes avec des réponses de modulation de la quantité et de la nature des EPS produites
Phototrophic biofilm, the main benthic signature of fast-flowing rivers, provide an important number of ecosystem services related to self-purification mechanisms (nitrates, pesticides, metal contaminations, etc.). However, their functioning is strongly disturbed by the increasing anthropogenic pressures, particularly by the presence of traces metals (TM) or the sequential interruption of surface flow. In the context of global change, the response of phototrophic communities should be considered for river management, in term of chemical and ecological properties. The aim of this thesis was to understand the physiological responses of benthic phototrophic microorganisms to environmental parameters involved in global change (light, temperature, phosphorus) as well as their response to a multi-stress combining the exposure of biofilms to TM (Cu and Zn, alone or in cocktail) by the prolonged drying of biofilm. Physiological responses of biofilm (biomass, photosynthetic activity and EPS production (extracellular polymeric substances)) were studied to analyze the tolerance and resilience capacities of communities. Three benthic phototrophic species were chosen: the cyanobacteria Phormidium autumnale, the diatom Nitzschia palea and the green algae Uronema confervicolum. Cultures of biofilm in free surface flow microcosms (hydraulic mini-channels) allowed to control all the experimental parameters. The first step was to develop a method for EPS extraction from the biofilm matrix while preserving the cell integrity of phototrophic microorganisms. Subsequently, the study of physiological responses of monospecific phototrophic biofilm exposed to Cu or/and Zn showed different sensitivities of phototrophic species. Then the sorption capacity of Cu by these species depended on environmental parameters, via the modulation of EPS production and composition. Finally, the double-stress characterised by Cu exposition followed by drying biofilm induced also resilience responses when rewetting, modulated by the environmental parameters. Overall, the monospecific phototrophic biofilms studied present different tolerance and resilience capacities by modifying the abundance and composition of EPS produced

Streams experiencing a recurrent non-flow phase (i.e., flow intermittency) are characteristic of world regions with arid and semi-arid climates, where Mediterranean regions are part of. During non-flow streambed sediments, and consequently, microorganisms inhabiting these sediments are exposed to desiccation. These microorganisms, assembled in biofilms, lead a substantial part of the ecosystem processes. They recycle the carbon materials, intervene in the nutrient cycles and are on the base of the food web, fueling energy to the higher trophic levels. The aim of this tesis is to understand how biofilms respond to flow intermittency in order to unravel the consequences of the increasing spatial and temporal extent of flow intermittency, as a consequence of the global change, on the biogeochemical cycles and on the ecosystem functions in temporary streams. Structural and functional biofilm responses were analyzed at the cellular level (algae and bacteria), as well as at the whole biofilm responses (autotrophic vs heterotrophic processes) in two different field studies
Els rius que experimenten una fase sense cabal (intermitència fluvial) són característics de les regions del món amb climes àrids i semi-àrids, com ara les regions de la Mediterrànies. Durant la fase seca es produeix la dessecació de la llera del riu i conseqüentment els microorganismes que creixen sobre aquests sediments estan exposats a la dessecació. El conjunt d’aquests microorganismes es coneix com a biofilm, el qual juga un paper clau en el processament de la matèria orgànica i en els cicles del carboni i nutrients, A més són a la base de la xarxa tròfica aportant energia als nivells tròfics superiors. L'objectiu principal d'aquesta tesi és entendre el funcionament del biofilm quan es dona la fase seca, pas clau per entendre i predir les implicacions que tenen els períodes creixents sense cabal en els cicles biogeoquímics i en el funcionament de l’ecosistema. Les respostes estructurals i funcionals del biofilm des d’un punt de vista cel·lular (algues i bacteris), així com també en el conjunt del biofilm (processos autotròfics i heterotròfics) es van investigar mitjançant dos estudis de camp

Species inhabiting intermittent streams must have life-history traits that confer resistance or resilience to flow cessation or drying. However, we lack basic life-history information for most aquatic invertebrate species, especially those from intermittent streams. I documented the life cycle and distribution of an unusual winter stonefly species, Mesocapnia arizonensis (Capniidae). The species was first described from 6 localities in 1969, but its natural history remained enigmatic. I surveyed >90 streams across the southwestern USA, documented the life cycle of M. arizonensis at 1 locality, and experimentally rehydrated dry streambed sediment in search of dormant stoneflies at another locality. Field surveys expanded the number of localities from 22 to 98, most of which were intermittent with flow durations as brief as 3 mo/y, and extended the known range of the species by 800 km. Nymphs were abundant within days of flow resumption, grew rapidly as a single cohort, and started emerging as adults 42 d after flow resumed. The brief appearance of a 2(nd) cohort of tiny nymphs 1 mo before the stream dried indicates direct hatching of at least some eggs. I failed to find dormant stoneflies in the top 30 cm of dry stream sediment, suggesting that M. arizonensis undergoes dormancy deep in the substrate, putting it safely out of reach of scouring summer floods that occur between favorable winter seasons. The remarkable ability of M. arizonensis to survive in short-flow duration streams and to endure multiple consecutive dry years, suggests that the species is well prepared for the drier climatic conditions predicted to occur across its range.

Bakgrund: I Sverige lever cirka 5000 personer med spinalskada. Där spinalskadan lett till nedsatt blåsfunktion är ren intermittent kateterisering (RIK) den metod som rekommenderas i första hand. Syfte: Att undersöka hur personer med traumatisk spinalskada som använder ren intermittent kateterisering (RIK) upplever detta. Syftet var även att ta reda på vilka hanteringsstrategier som finns för att underlätta det dagliga livet. Metod: En kvalitativ metod med semistrukturerade intervjuer användes där fem personer med traumatisk spinalskada som använder RIK intervjuades. Resultat: Att behöva tillägna sig metoden väckte blandade känslor. Män upplevde det lättare att RIKa jämfört med kvinnor. Den egna kompetensen och kunnandet om metoden RIK ökade med tiden och de hittade nya hanteringsstrategier för att underlätta vardagen. Informanterna var medvetna om vikten av god hygien för att undvika urinvägsinfektioner. Däremot framgick det inte om informanterna var medvetna om kopplingen mellan vikten av regelbunden RIKning, residualurin i blåsan och uppkomsten av urinvägsinfektioner. Slutsats: Personer som använder RIK upplever det som nödvändigt och avgörande för att kunna leva ett normalt liv. Hanteringsstrategier är planering och anpassande av metoden efter fysisk förmåga och den egna vardagen. Behovet av stöd hos personer med spinalskada som använder RIK är individuellt och varierar. Adekvat stöd och utbildning underlättar och hjälper personer med nedsatt blåsfunktion som använder RIK att ta kontroll över utövandet och främjar följsamheten och långsiktig hälsa avseende urinvägarna.
Background: About 5,000 people in Sweden live with a spinal injury. Where the spinal injury leads to impaired bladder function, clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) is the method recommended in the first place. Aim: To examine  how individuals  with traumatic  spinal injury  using clean  intermittent catheterization experience the method. The aim was also to find out coping strategies available to facilitate daily life. Methods: A qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews was used where five people with traumatic spinal injury were interviewed. Results: The need to use CIC brought about mixed feelings among informants. Men felt that it was easier for them to use clean intermittent catheterization compared to women. Their expertise and knowledge increased with time and they found new coping strategies to facilitate everyday life. The informants were aware of the importance of good hygiene to prevent urinary tract infections. However, it was not clear if the informants were aware of the connection between the importance of using clean intermittent catheterization regularly, residual urine in the bladder and the occurrence of  urinary  tract  infections. Conclusion: People who use CIC experience it as essential and vital in order to live a normal life. The need for support of people with spinal injury who use CIC is individual and varies. Adequate support and training for people with impaired bladder function using CIC facilitates and helps them to take control initially and promotes an ongoing adherence and long-term health regarding urinary tract.

The aim of this thesis was to quantify the physiological strain during intennittent sprint exercise while under heat stress and to investigate interventions that may alleviate this strain. In study one agreement between measures of body temperature from the rectum (criterion), aural (ear) canal and intestines was assessed during a 40 min Cycling Intennittent Sprint Protocol (CISP). Peak rectal temperatures in the temperate and hot conditions were 38.4 ± 0.3°C and 38.8 ± 0.6 °C, respectively. Both aural and intestinal temperature displayed statistically acceptable agreement with rectal temperature within a range of 1.2°C. However, this range of agreement was not deemed clinically acceptable, so rectal thermometry remained the criterion measure. In study two, heat strain was quantified using a physiological strain index (PSI) that classified strain on a scale of 0 (no strain) to 10 (very high strain). The PSI was higher (8.2 ± 0.5 Units; P < 0.05) whilst perfonning the CISP in hot compared to temperate conditions (7.0 ± 0.5 Units). The PSI was negatively correlated to peak power output (PPo; r = -0.80, P < 0.01) in the heat and PPO declined after 10 sprints (P < 0.05). In the temperate condition, PSI showed no correlation with PPO and no decline in PPO occurred. Heat strain (PSI) in study three was lower during the CISP using a recovery intensity of 35% peak oxygen consumption (VOzpeak) compared to 50% VOzpeak as had been used in studies one and two. Concomitantly, the reduction in PPO of individual sprints was delayed by 5 sprints and average PPO was ~ 4% higher during 35% V02peak in the heat (1165 ± 154 W) than during 50% VOzpeak in the heat (1120 ± 190 W; Main effect; P < 0.05). To determine if pre-cooling could alleviate heat strain further, study four examined 20 minutes of water immersion, or wearing an ice vest, or ice packs placed on the legs, compared to a control condition. All pre-cooling techniques reduced the PSI and rectal temperature, and water immersion and ice packs also reduced muscle temperature (0.7 ± 2.3 °C and 1.0 ± 6.6 °C; P < 0.05, respectively). Peak power output in the control condition (1132 ± 112 W) was reduced by ~ 1% after water immersion (1126 ± 118 W), increased by ~1% after wearing the ice vest (1149 ± 127 W) and ice packs improved PPO by ~4% (1181 ± 149 W; P < 0.05). The combination of ice pack pre-cooling and heat acclimation was investigated for the final study. Muscle damage and the cellular response to exercise induced heat strain were also investigated. These were assessed through the changes in blood plasma creatine kinase (CK) and heat stress protein 70 (HSP70) concentrations, respectively. Ten days of heat acclimation improved PPO (~3%; Main effect, P < 0.05) during the CISP in the heat, but the further precooling was not additionally ergogenic. During the CISP in the heat, prior to heat acclimation, significant changes of plasma CK (208 ± 233 U/L; P < 0.05) and HSP70 (0.027 ± 0.016 ng'ml 1; P < 0.05) concentrations were observed. However these changes were not observed after heat acclimation. This indicated increased cellular thermo-tolerance against temperature and exercise induced muscle damage and may be linked to the ergogenic response observed. This thesis confirms a direct relationship between heat strain and intermittent sprint exercise performance whilst under heat stress. Manipulation of heat strain can be achieved by using different interventions that can improve intermittent sprint exercise performance. These results are most relevant to unacclimated games players competing in hot, humid conditions.

Currently, global change is promoting the spatiotemporal occurrence of temporary streams, altering fluvial ecosystem function and structure, and the ecosystem services they provide. To effectively protect fluvial ecosystems, a detailed understanding of the effects of hydrological regime changes on their biodiversity and functioning is needed. Organisms inhabiting temporary streams are directly affected by their hydrological regime, including the stream biofilm. Biofilms are associations of microorganisms and they are of particular relevance in temporary streams because of their diversity, abundance, and key role in ecosystem processes. Therefore, understanding biofilm response to hydrological regime variability is key to understand the implications of increasing non-flow periods on fluvial ecosystems. The results of this thesis demonstrate the non-flow duration as a key influence on the structure and functioning of river biofilms, the importance of maintaining photoautotrophic stream biodiversity to preserve stream ecosystems functioning and the protective role of canopy cover to protect these communities
El canvi global està promovent l’aparició de rius intermitents, alterant funcionament, estructura i serveis ecosistèmics dels sistemes fluvials. Per a protegir efectivament els ecosistemes fluvials, es necessita un coneixement detallat dels efectes del canvi de règim hidrològic sobre la seva biodiversitat i funcionament. Els organismes que habiten els rius temporals estan directament afectats pels canvis hidrològics, inclòs el biofilm. Els biofilms són associacions de microorganismes i particularment rellevants als rius temporals per la seva diversitat, abundància i paper en processos ecosistèmics. Així, entendre la resposta del biofilm a la variabilitat del règim hidrològic és clau per entendre les implicacions del increment del període sec als ecosistemes fluvials. Els resultats d'aquesta tesi demostren la duració del període sec com a vector d'estructura i funcionament del biofilm, la importància de mantenir la biodiversitat fotoautòtrofa per preservar el funcionament ecosistèmic i el paper protector de la coberta vegetal sobre aquestes comunitats

Physical factors, such as hydrologic variability, are major structuring forces of prairie stream communities. Macroinvertebrate and algae densities can both decrease sharply in response to floods and drying. Less is known about the influences of biological factors, such as fishes. The influence of fishes on macroinvertebrate communities varies with environmental factors and other biologic interactions, ranging from neutral to strong negative effects on some populations, and the strength of these interactions sometimes appear linked to hydrology. Drying intermittent streams leave permanent water refugia that may be hotspots for interactions between fishes and invertebrates. Effects of fishes on macroinvertebrate communities may vary with invertebrate life cycle stages (e.g., larvae, emerging adults, colonizing adults). I examined macroinvertebrate communities (benthic and emerging) and algal biomass across a range of permanent stream pool sites at Konza Prairie Biological Station with naturally varying densities of fishes. I also manipulated fish densities in a mesocosm experiment to address how fishes may also be effecting colonization during recovery from hydrologic disturbance. Fish biomass had a negative impact on invertebrate abundance, but not biomass or taxa richness, in natural pools. Total fish biomass was not correlated with total insect emergence in natural pools, but orangethroat darter (Etheostoma spectabile) biomass was inversely correlated with emerging Chironomidae biomass (r2 = 0.43, p = 0.047) and individual midge body size (r2 = 0.61, p = 0.014). Predatory fish biomass and a date interaction appeared in top linear models, indicating fish may also delay insect emergence from natural pools. Fish presence reduced abundance of colonizing insects (p < 0.001) and total invertebrate biomass (p = 0.001) in mesocosms. Mesocosm insect communities in pools without fishes were characterized by more Chironomidae, Culicidae, and Corduliidae (p < 0.001 for all). Chlorophyll-a increased between sampling dates in mesocosms, but did not differ between treatments. Not all life stages showed the same response to fishes, illustrating the need for understanding life histories in order to interpret the influence of fishes. Understanding how fishes in prairie streams affect ecosystem structure and function is critical for conservation and management of remaining grassland streams. Results suggest fishes can influence colonization and community structure in prairie stream pools, which serve as important refugia during hydrologic disturbance and source areas for colonists during recovery.

This PhD thesis is carried out as part of a co-tutoring project between the University of L'Aquila and the Institute for Water Research (IRSA) of the National Research Council (CNR) based in Bari, it examines the erosion-transport-sedimentation dynamics of a small mediterranean watershed togheter with its ephemeral, intermittent river system. The data set consists of continuous discharge measurements (Q) and discrete concentration of suspended solids (SSC) samplings, collected at "Masseria Pirro" gauging station located 8 km upstream the Capaccio (Torrebianca) reservoir, and entirely managed by the institute. The flow-regime, the seasonality and the occurrence of particular events, will be studied as well as the total annual loads of suspended sediment calculated with different methods widely used in the literature. Subsequently, a statistical uncertainty analysis will be applied to these "output" data, aimed at assessing the reliability ranges related to each analyzed estimation method. From this last step one can already understands one of the fundamental purposes of the study, which is precisely to provide an instrument capable of making it clear that there is a certain "range", within which the applicability and repeatability of certain methods of evaluation rather than others, it may be more or less correct for some basins rather than others. Subsequently, starting from the results of the analysis carried out by addressing the load estimation problem and observing that, as in similar basins, also in Celone river most of the suspended sediment transported during the year is conveyed during flood events, we proceeded to analyze at the event scale the erosion-transport-sedimentation dynamic. After having obtained historical high resolution rainfall depth data, 30 min (± 0.5mm), of two different gauging stations belonging to the basin for the same study period (2010-2011) and after identifying a set of 18 independent variables, all competing in various capacities in influencing the studied phenomena, a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was conducted, aimed at decreasing the variable’s space, reducing it to the only components, the main ones, which are most able to describe them. The event-scale analysis also made it possible to carry out a further study, concerning the Q-SSC hysteresis, or the nonlinear relationship that occurs during a single event between the variation in discharge and suspended sediment concentration, over time. This study, already carried out by De Girolamo et al. 2015, has been revived through the indexing of hysteresis cycles by the introduction of specific HI index. This methodology, even if it entails the loss of precision given by the observation of the single cycle in the traditional plot (Zhang et al. 2014), had the purpose of being able to make comparisons, both within the basin and with other basins, of different responses to different rainfall events. The application also made it possible to provide interesting indications regarding the location, more or less distant from the sampling point, of the sediment production areas, then compared with the results obtained by applying the FLORENCE model referred to in the subsequent chapter. Finally, a physically based modeling of the instrumented watershed was carried out, starting from it, through a subdivision into sub-areas unit with homogeneous characteristics and through further multi-scenario modelling applied to them, those areas of the basin most likely to release and convey sediment to the watercourse will be identified. The same model will make it possible to give a first approach quantification the of the reservoir siltation, for the Torrebianca reservoir itself (8km downstream of the measurement station on the Celone river). This quantification will then be validated through the aforementioned suspended load estimates.
This PhD thesis is carried out as part of a co-tutoring project between the University of L'Aquila and the Institute for Water Research (IRSA) of the National Research Council (CNR) based in Bari, it examines the erosion-transport-sedimentation dynamics of a small mediterranean watershed togheter with its ephemeral, intermittent river system. The data set consists of continuous discharge measurements (Q) and discrete concentration of suspended solids (SSC) samplings, collected at "Masseria Pirro" gauging station located 8 km upstream the Capaccio (Torrebianca) reservoir, and entirely managed by the institute. The flow-regime, the seasonality and the occurrence of particular events, will be studied as well as the total annual loads of suspended sediment calculated with different methods widely used in the literature. Subsequently, a statistical uncertainty analysis will be applied to these "output" data, aimed at assessing the reliability ranges related to each analyzed estimation method. From this last step one can already understands one of the fundamental purposes of the study, which is precisely to provide an instrument capable of making it clear that there is a certain "range", within which the applicability and repeatability of certain methods of evaluation rather than others, it may be more or less correct for some basins rather than others. Subsequently, starting from the results of the analysis carried out by addressing the load estimation problem and observing that, as in similar basins, also in Celone river most of the suspended sediment transported during the year is conveyed during flood events, we proceeded to analyze at the event scale the erosion-transport-sedimentation dynamic. After having obtained historical high resolution rainfall depth data, 30 min (± 0.5mm), of two different gauging stations belonging to the basin for the same study period (2010-2011) and after identifying a set of 18 independent variables, all competing in various capacities in influencing the studied phenomena, a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was conducted, aimed at decreasing the variable’s space, reducing it to the only components, the main ones, which are most able to describe them. The event-scale analysis also made it possible to carry out a further study, concerning the Q-SSC hysteresis, or the nonlinear relationship that occurs during a single event between the variation in discharge and suspended sediment concentration, over time. This study, already carried out by De Girolamo et al. 2015, has been revived through the indexing of hysteresis cycles by the introduction of specific HI index. This methodology, even if it entails the loss of precision given by the observation of the single cycle in the traditional plot (Zhang et al. 2014), had the purpose of being able to make comparisons, both within the basin and with other basins, of different responses to different rainfall events. The application also made it possible to provide interesting indications regarding the location, more or less distant from the sampling point, of the sediment production areas, then compared with the results obtained by applying the FLORENCE model referred to in the subsequent chapter. Finally, a physically based modeling of the instrumented watershed was carried out, starting from it, through a subdivision into sub-areas unit with homogeneous characteristics and through further multi-scenario modelling applied to them, those areas of the basin most likely to release and convey sediment to the watercourse will be identified. The same model will make it possible to give a first approach quantification the of the reservoir siltation, for the Torrebianca reservoir itself (8km downstream of the measurement station on the Celone river). This quantification will then be validated through the aforementioned suspended load estimates.
This PhD thesis is carried out as part of a co-tutoring project between the University of L'Aquila and the Institute for Water Research (IRSA) of the National Research Council (CNR) based in Bari, it examines the erosion-transport-sedimentation dynamics of a small mediterranean watershed togheter with its ephemeral, intermittent river system. The data set consists of continuous discharge measurements (Q) and discrete concentration of suspended solids (SSC) samplings, collected at "Masseria Pirro" gauging station located 8 km upstream the Capaccio (Torrebianca) reservoir, and entirely managed by the institute. The flow-regime, the seasonality and the occurrence of particular events, will be studied as well as the total annual loads of suspended sediment calculated with different methods widely used in the literature. Subsequently, a statistical uncertainty analysis will be applied to these "output" data, aimed at assessing the reliability ranges related to each analyzed estimation method. From this last step one can already understands one of the fundamental purposes of the study, which is precisely to provide an instrument capable of making it clear that there is a certain "range", within which the applicability and repeatability of certain methods of evaluation rather than others, it may be more or less correct for some basins rather than others. Subsequently, starting from the results of the analysis carried out by addressing the load estimation problem and observing that, as in similar basins, also in Celone river most of the suspended sediment transported during the year is conveyed during flood events, we proceeded to analyze at the event scale the erosion-transport-sedimentation dynamic. After having obtained historical high resolution rainfall depth data, 30 min (± 0.5mm), of two different gauging stations belonging to the basin for the same study period (2010-2011) and after identifying a set of 18 independent variables, all competing in various capacities in influencing the studied phenomena, a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was conducted, aimed at decreasing the variable’s space, reducing it to the only components, the main ones, which are most able to describe them. The event-scale analysis also made it possible to carry out a further study, concerning the Q-SSC hysteresis, or the nonlinear relationship that occurs during a single event between the variation in discharge and suspended sediment concentration, over time. This study, already carried out by De Girolamo et al. 2015, has been revived through the indexing of hysteresis cycles by the introduction of specific HI index. This methodology, even if it entails the loss of precision given by the observation of the single cycle in the traditional plot (Zhang et al. 2014), had the purpose of being able to make comparisons, both within the basin and with other basins, of different responses to different rainfall events. The application also made it possible to provide interesting indications regarding the location, more or less distant from the sampling point, of the sediment production areas, then compared with the results obtained by applying the FLORENCE model referred to in the subsequent chapter. Finally, a physically based modeling of the instrumented watershed was carried out, starting from it, through a subdivision into sub-areas unit with homogeneous characteristics and through further multi-scenario modelling applied to them, those areas of the basin most likely to release and convey sediment to the watercourse will be identified. The same model will make it possible to give a first approach quantification the of the reservoir siltation, for the Torrebianca reservoir itself (8km downstream of the measurement station on the Celone river). This quantification will then be validated through the aforementioned suspended load estimates.

There are evidence that high-intensity acute exercise can promote oxidative stress. High-intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE) is a type of structured physical training characterised by repeated bouts of high-intensity exercise interspersed by recovery periods. As the impact of intermittency during acute HIIE has not been extensively studied, it is possible that the repeated intensive bouts within HIIE could induce oxidative stress levels. Plasma biomarkers, including lipid hydroperoxides and markers of DNA damage, have been increasingly applied within acute exercise physiology research to measure oxidative stress. This thesis presents the experimental outcomes of research into the effect of different forms of HIIE on established and novel biomarkers of oxidative stress. For the 1st study (chapter 3) a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS) method was developed and optimised to measure DNA oxidation in plasma samples. Implementing a range of progressive analytical techniques, the method developed had a sensitivity to detect 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-Oxo-dG) in human plasma samples in the range of 5 – 500 nM. The implementation of this LC-MS method along with other oxidative stress biomarkers was thereafter applied to a randomised investigation of different high-intensity intermittent exercise protocols. The 2nd (chapter 4) and 3rd (chapter 5) studies considered the effect of different forms of intermittent exercise undertaken by 9 healthy, regularly active male participants (aged 21.0 ± 3.0 years). Each intermittent exercise session was performed for a total duration of 45 minutes. Each 45 minute exercise protocol consisted of 4 minute stages of high-intensity intermittent running at a mean 75% v!O2max, followed by 1 minute of passive recovery (halt of running). The experimental protocol was specifically designed to match for average speed, duration and distance but varied in either the intermittency (chapter 4) or the acceleration/deceleration (chapter 5). The effects of different forms of intermittent exercise (high, moderate, low) or different acceleration/deceleration components (high, moderate, low) in relation to oxidative stress biomarkers were determined. Results showed the absence of significant increases in all the biomarkers examined. However, significant variation in individual oxidative stress responses was observed. Within a final study, the 8-Oxo-dG method developed was compared to a widely used ELISA method, as there are indications in the literature that ELISA may overestimate 8-Oxo-dG. Determination of 8-Oxo-dG was undertaken on blood plasma samples from 30 chronic heart failure patients (males = 23, females = 7) recruited from the Academic Cardiology department at Castle Hill hospital, Hull, UK, as previous studies have characterised the heart failure syndrome to be associated with higher levels of oxidative stress. Results showed that the LC-MS method developed found no detectable levels of 8-Oxo-dG in plasma samples whereas ELISA showed quantifiable amounts of 8-Oxo-dG. Thus, this thesis presented that the impact of intermittency or acceleration/deceleration following acute HIIE does not induce significant oxidative stress as determined by plasma and serum biomarkers, including plasma 8-Oxo-dG.

La maladie d’Alzheimer (MA) est une pathologie neurodégénérative multifactorielle constituant la première cause de démence. Au niveau cérébral, deux types de lésions histopathologiques sont retrouvées chez les patients : les dépôts amyloïdes, constitués de peptides bêta ;-amyloïdes (A bêta;) agrégés dans le milieu extracellulaire ; et la dégénérescence neurofibrillaire (DNF), accumulation intra-neuronale de fibrilles formées de filaments appariés en hélices, majoritairement constitués de protéines Tau agrégées et pour lesquelles l’état de de phosphorylation est altéré. Si le principal facteur de risque de MA est l’âge, de nombreux facteurs de risques environnementaux et génétiques ont également été identifiés. Depuis plusieurs années, les études cliniques réalisées chez des patients atteints de la MA semblent indiquer que les troubles du sommeil, et en particulier le syndrome d’apnées du sommeil (SAS), pourraient être à l’origine de la conversion des patients présentant une déficience cognitive légère vers une MA, ainsi que d’une aggravation du tableau cognitif chez ces patients Alzheimer. Dans ce contexte, plusieurs études expérimentales se sont intéressées aux effets d’un stress hypoxique intermittent sur la composante amyloïde de la MA. En particulier, il a été démontré qu’un stress hypoxique intermittent pouvait potentialiser la synthèse de peptides Aβ in vitro mais également in vivo. En revanche, à l’heure actuelle, l’effet d’un stress hypoxique intermittent sur la pathologie Tau demeure très peu connu. Or, chez l’homme, la progression de la DNF est corrélée avec celle des atteintes cognitives. De fait, et suite aux études cliniques semblant indiquer une majoration des troubles cognitifs chez les patients Alzheimer présentant un SAS, il nous a semblé pertinent de nous intéresser à la pathologie Tau en situation d’hypoxie. Les objectifs de ces travaux de thèse étaient d’évaluer l’effet d’un stress hypoxique sur la mémoire et la protéine Tau chez l’animal. Pour cela, nous avons utilisé le modèle murin transgénique THY-Tau22, qui surexprime une protéine Tau humaine mutée et développe une pathologie Tau progressive corrélée avec une atteinte mnésique observable lors de tests comportementaux. Nous avons utilisé des animaux à différents stades de la pathologie Tau : les premiers présentaient une pathologie Tau modérée, les seconds présentaient une pathologie Tau à un stade plus avancé. Les animaux ont été soumis à deux protocoles d’hypoxie différents : un protocole d’hypoxies aiguës (Fraction inspirée en oxygène (FiO2) égale à 8% pendant une heure) mais répétées de façon bihebdomadaire pendant plusieurs mois, et un protocole d’hypoxies intermittentes (FiO2 variant de 5% à 21% par cycles de 60 secondes, 8 heures par jour, pendant deux semaines). Nos résultats ont mis en évidence des effets inattendus du stress hypoxique sur la mémoire des animaux, associés à des modifications de l’état de phosphorylation et de l’agrégation de la protéine Tau. En particulier, les animaux transgéniques les plus âgés (donc présentant une pathologie Tau a un stade avancé) soumis au protocole d’hypoxies intermittentes (modèle de SAS) ont présenté une amélioration de leurs capacités mnésiques, ce qui va à l’encontre des observations réalisées en clinique humaine (aggravation des troubles cognitifs des sujets atteints de la MA et présentant un SAS). Ces résultats sont associés à une réduction des quantités de protéines Tau agrégées dans l’hippocampe, signe d’une réduction de la pathologie Tau dans le modèle. Nous discutons ici ces résultats et leur apport en clinique humaine
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative pathology constituting the first cause of dementia. At a cerebral level, two kinds of histopathological lesions are found in patients: amyloid deposits (extracellular aggregates of β-amyloid peptides: Aβ) and neurofibrillary degeneration (NFD). NFD consists in intraneuronal accumulation of paired helical filaments, mainly composed of aggregated and hyperphosphorylated Tau proteins. Aging is the main risk factor for AD. However, numerous environmental and genetic risk factors have also been identified. Since several years, some clinical studies have shown that sleep disorders breathing, and especially the sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) could be responsible of the conversion of mild cognitive impairment to AD. SAS could also be an aggravating factor for AD, with an increase of the cognitive decline seen in patients. In this context, many experimental studies have been interested in the consequences of an intermittent hypoxic stress on the amyloid pathology. More specifically, it has been shown that an intermittent hypoxic stress could potentiate Aβ synthesis both in vitro and in vivo. Nevertheless, the impact of an intermittent hypoxic stress on Tau pathology remains poorly investigated. As clinical studies in AD patients with a SAS have shown an increase of the cognitive decline, and that it is well known that NFD is correlated with the cognitive impairment in AD patients, we were interested to study the Tau pathology under hypoxia.Our objectives in this thesis were to evaluate the consequences of a hypoxic stress on memory and Tau protein in animals. We used the THY-Tau22 transgenic mouse model, overexpressing a human mutated Tau protein and presenting a progressive Tau pathology correlated with a memory impairment observable in behavioural tasks. The animals were submitted to hypoxia at different stages of the Tau pathology: the younger animals showed a moderate Tau pathology whereas the olders presented a major Tau pathology. Two different protocols were used in this work. The first one consisted in repeated acute hypoxias (inspired fraction of oxygen (FiO2): 8% for 1 hour, twice a week, for several months). The second one was a protocol of intermittent hypoxias (FiO2 comprised between 5% and 21%, 60 seconds cycles, 8 hours per day, for 2 weeks). We observed some unexpected results of hypoxic stress on memory and Tau pathology in our transgenic mice. More specifically, the THY-Tau22 mice exhibiting the stronger Tau pathology (the older animals) have shown an improvement of their memory after two weeks of intermittent hypoxia. This result goes against the clinical observations (aggravation of the cognitive decline of AD patients with a SAS), but is correlated in our model to a significant decrease of aggregated Tau protein in the hippocampi of our mice. We discuss here these results and their contribution to human pathology

Western Pond Turtles, Emys (Actinemys) marmorata, were captured (n=173) in 2011 (wet year) and 2012–2013 (successively drier drought years) along upper Coyote Creek, an intermittent stream in central California. Males outnumbered females 2.8:1, juveniles less than 120 mm long made up 26% of captures, growth rates varied among individuals, and little growth occurred in turtles older than 10 years. I radio-tracked turtles from May 2011 through August 2013 to ascertain movements and seasonal habitat use. Males had much larger home ranges than females (means of 2281 m for males and 501 m for females in 2012), and males moved extensively in April and May, during the apparent breeding season. Turtles preferred deep and complex pools, complex runs, and backwaters. Turtles left the stream for upland habitats in late spring and summer as stream flow ceased and pool connectivity was broken. There was substantial variation in departure dates among individuals and between wetter and drier reaches. Mean departure date was 16 August in 2011, but decreased to 20 July in 2012 and 28 June in 2013, as the drought intensified. Upland sites were mostly within 100 m of the stream, beneath dried leaves and/or thatch, and on slopes varying from flat to over 40%. Turtles remained upland for almost seven months in 2011–2012, although there was much variation. Mean return to stream dates were 27 February (males) and 16 March (females).

Pecan Creek flows southeast through the City of Denton, Texas. Characterized as an urban watershed, the basin covers approximately 63.5 km2. Pecan Creek is an intermittent stream that receives nonpoint runoff from urban landuses, and the City of Denton's wastewater treatment plant, Pecan Creek Water Reclamation Plant, discharges effluent to the stream. Downstream from the City of Denton and the wastewater treatment plant, Pecan Creek flows about 6,000 m through agricultural, pasture, and forested landscapes into Copas Cove of Lake Lewisville, creating backwater conditions. Pecan Creek water quality and chemistry were monitored from August 1997 to October 2001. Water quality was influenced by seasonal, spatial, climatic, and diurnal dynamics. Wastewater effluent discharged from the Pecan Creek Water Reclamation Plant had the greatest influence on water quality of the stream and backwaters. Water quality monitoring of Pecan Creek demonstrated that dissolved oxygen standards for the protection of aquatic life were being achieved. Water quality modeling of Pecan Creek was completed to assess future increases in effluent flow from the Pecan Creek Water Reclamation Plant. Water quality modeling indicated that dissolved oxygen standards would not be achieved at the future effluent flow of 21 MGD and at NPDES permitted loadings. Model results with application of a safety factor indicated that the maximum allowable concentrations for a 21 MGD discharge would be 2.3 mg/L of ammonia and 7.0 mg/L of biochemical oxygen demand at summer conditions. Drought conditions that occurred from 1998 to 2001 reduced water levels in Lake Lewisville and impacted dissolved oxygen water quality in Pecan Creek. Water quality observations made during the period of drought allowed for the development of a model to estimate the zone of the dissolved oxygen sag in Pecan Creek based on reservoir elevation. Finally, monitoring results were analyzed with nonparametric statistical procedures to detect water quality changes in the backwater area of Pecan Creek, as influenced by storm events.

Altitude is one naturally occurring source of low oxygen levels (hypoxia) and altitude acclimatization has been utilized to trigger cellular protection in elite athlete training. Acclimatization to low oxygen (pre-conditioning) confers cross protection to other physical, environmental and pharmacological stressors, and using animal models this phenomenon has been translated for use in the clinical setting, for example in ischemic preconditioning used immediately prior to brain and cardiac surgery. An alternative to altitude acclimatization is passive intermittent hypoxia exposure (IHE), a laboratory-based technique developed to simulate the effects of altitude acclimatization. In healthy individuals IHE has been reported to stimulate adaptations produced in the body in response to altitude. These adaptations include increases in hypoxia inducible factor, erythropoietin, red blood cell count, hematocrit, haemoglobin concentration and reticulocyte production. Such increases offer a protective role by enhancing oxygen delivery to the tissues and by increasing cellular protection and tolerance to further hypoxic insults.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science
Griffith Health
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Le Syndrome d'Apnées Obstructives du Sommeil (SAOS) est défini par la survenue durant le sommeil d'épisodes fréquents d'obstruction complète ou partielle des voies aériennes supérieures, responsables d'apnées/hypopnées. L'hypoxie intermittente (HI) qui en résulte est responsable, à long terme, d'une augmentation de la morbi-mortalité cardiovasculaire (CV) dans un contexte de forte prévalence de syndrome métabolique, d'obésité et d'insulinorésistance. Certains patients SAOS obèses présentent une hypoventilation/hypercapnie, caractérisant le syndrome d'obésité hypoventilation (SOH) dont la morbi-mortalité CV est encore plus sévère que le SAOS seul. Le stress oxydant, l'inflammation de bas grade et la dérégulation du métabolisme glucido-lipidique et hormonal sont parmi les mécanismes clés responsables de la dysfonction endothéliale et in fine de l'augmentation du risque CV chez ces patients. Cependant, si ces mécanismes délétères sont démontrés par de nombreuses études fondamentales, leur mise en évidence en clinique est moins évidente, notamment du fait des multiples facteurs de co-morbidité. La première partie clinico-biologique de ce travail a été consacrée à la mise en évidence, chez des patients porteurs d'un SAOS ou d'un SOH, des déséquilibres métaboliques et hormonaux impliquant le stress oxydant, en lien avec la sévérité de ces syndromes et leurs conséquences CV. Nous avons ainsi montré chez des patients SOH les plus sévères une altération de la fonction somatotrope proportionnelle à la dysfonction respiratoire et à l'hypertriglycéridémie. Nous avons ensuite mis en évidence, chez des patients SAOS non obèses, l'implication du stress oxydant lipidique dans l'athérosclérose précoce associée à la sévérité du SAOS. Enfin, nous nous sommes intéressés à l'homocystéinémie, facteur de risque cardio-vasculaire connu, chez des patients porteurs d'un syndrome métabolique présentant ou non un SAOS. Nous avons observé une majoration de l'homocystéinémie chez les patients souffrant d'un SAOS par rapport aux patients SMet non SAOS, en lien avec la sévérité des apnées/hypopnées, avec l'athérosclérose précoce, ainsi qu'avec un déséquilibre de la balance pro/antioxydante. Dans une seconde partie fondamentale, nous avons étudié les effets de l'endothéline-1 (ET-1), peptide vasoconstricteur d'origine endothéliale dont la sécrétion est majorée par l'HI, sur le métabolisme d'adipocytes en culture. Nous avons montré que ce peptide majore la lipolyse adipocytaire via les récepteur ET-1 de type A, tend à diminuer l'incorporation du glucose, et ce de manière opposée et additionnelle aux effets de l'insuline. Chez le rat Wistar exposé 14 jours à l'HI, nous avons observé une activation du système endothéline associée à un remodelage du tissu adipeux avec diminution de taille adipocytaire. Au-delà de ses effets vasoconstricteurs, ET-1 déséquilibre donc le métabolisme glucido-lipidique adipocytaire, et pourrait ainsi participer activement à l'insulinorésistance des patients SAOS obèses. Le rôle du système endothéline au niveau du métabolisme énergétique et son impact sur le tissu adipeux constituent donc des pistes sérieuses à explorer dans ce contexte. Mots-clés : Syndrome d'apnées obstructives du sommeil, syndrome d'obésité hypoventilation, stress oxydant, hypoxie intermittente, endothéline-1, insulinorésistance, lipolyse, adipocyte et tissu adipeux
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is defined by recurrent complete (apnea) or partial (hypopnea) upper airway obstructions during sleep. The resulting intermittent hypoxia (IH) is responsible for a long-term increase in cardiovascular (CV) morbi-mortality in a context of strong prevalence of metabolic syndrome, obesity and insulin resistance. Some obese OSAS patients present with Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS) characterized by hypoventilation/hypercapnia and an even higher risk of cardiovascular morbi-mortality. Oxidative stress, low-grade inflammation, gluco-lipidic and hormonal alterations are among the key mechanisms leading to endothelial dysfunction and in fine to increased CV risk in OSAS. However, these various mechanisms have been identified by fundamental studies and their relevance in clinical research is less evident, in particular because of the presence of multiple comorbidity factors. The clinicobiological part of this work was devoted to the exploration of the oxidative stress-related metabolic and hormonal changes in OSAS and OHS patients, in relation with the severity of these diseases and their associated CV consequences. In the most severe OHS patients, we showed an impairment of the somatotropic axis linked to respiratory dysfunction and increase in triglycerides. We then highlighted, in non-obese OSAS patients, the involvement of lipid oxidative stress in early atherosclerosis and its association with OSAS severity. Finally, we investigated homocysteine, a well-known CV risk factor, in patients suffering from metabolic syndrome (MS) with or without OSAS. We observed an increase in homocysteinemia in OSAS+MS patients compared to non-OSAS+MS patients, linked to the severity of sleep apnea, to early atherosclerosis, as well as to pro/antioxidative imbalance. In the experimental part, we investigated the effects of the hypoxia-released vasoconstrictor peptide endothelin-1 (ET-1) on the metabolism of 3T3-L1 adipocytes in vitro. We showed that through its type-A receptor, ET-1 increases adipocyte lipolysis, tends to decrease glucose uptake and significantly inhibits the effects of insulin. Moreover, ET-1 stimulates its own expression, and expression of its ET-A receptor in 3T3-L1 cells. In parallel, in Wistar rats exposed to 14 days of IH, we observed an activation of the endothelin system associated with a remodelling of adipose tissue characterized by a decrease in adipocyte size. In conclusion, beyond its vasoconstrictor effects, ET-1 can modify glucose and lipid metabolism of adipocytes, and could thus actively participate in the insulin resistance and dyslipidemia observed in OSAS obese patient. The role of the endothelin system in energetic metabolism and its impact on adipose tissue thus represent promising avenues to be investigated in OSAS. Keywords: obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, oxidative stress, intermittent hypoxia, endothelin-1, insulin resistance, lipolysis, adipocyte and adipose tissue

Six sites within the Denton and Hickory Creek watersheds were sampled over three years to assess the impact of seasonal intermittent stream conditions on the ichthyofauna. An integrated approach using field and laboratory techniques was employed to evaluate the responses of the fishes.

Abstract in italiano Background: La Sindrome delle Apnee Ostruttive del Sonno (OSAS) è una malattia associata con l’aumento del rischio cardiovascolare ed è caratterizzata da episodi ripetuti di ipossia intermittente (IH) durante il sonno, che induce lo stress ossidativo e l’infiammazione sistemica. I mitocondri sono organelli cellulari coinvolti nella respirazione cellulare e contengono un proprio materiale genetico, il DNA mitocondriale (MtDNA). Lo scopo di questo studio è quello di valutare se l’aumento dello stress ossidativo nei pazienti OSAS può indurre un’alterazione dell’MtDNA. Materiali e Metodi: 46 pazienti OSAS (età 59.27 ± 11.38; BMI 30.84 ± 3.64; AHI 36.63 ± 24.18) sono stati confrontati con 36 soggetti di controllo (età 54.42 ± 6.63; BMI 29.06 ± 4.7; AHI 3.8 ± 1.10). Nelle cellule del sangue il contenuto del DNA Mitocondriale (MtDNA) e del DNA nucleare (nDNA) è stato amplificato e quantificato nei pazienti OSAS mediante la Real-Time qPCR. Il rapporto tra MtDNA/nDNA è stato poi calcolato. La presenza dello stress ossidativo è stata valutata dai livelli dei Metaboliti Reattivi dell’Ossigeno (ROMs), misurati con il d-ROMs test. Risultati: Il rapporto MtDNA/nDNA era più alto nei pazienti OSAS rispetto al gruppo di controllo (150.94 ± 49.14 vs 128.96 ± 45.8; p = 0.04), il livello dei ROMs era anche più alto nei soggetti OSAS (329,71 ± 70,17 vs 226.0 ± 36,76; p = 0,04) ed è stato positivamente correlato con l’MtDNA/nDNA (R = 0.5, p <0.01). Conclusioni: Nei pazienti OSAS vi è un danno del DNA mitocondriale indotto dall’aumento dello stress ossidativo. L’ipossia intermittente sembra essere il principale meccanismo che porta a questo processo. Abstract in english Background: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSAS) is a disease associated with the increase of cardiovascular risk and it is characterized by repeated episodes of Intermittent Hypoxia (IH) which inducing oxidative stress and systemic inflammation. Mitochondria are cell organelles involved in the respiratory that have their own DNA (MtDNA). The aim of this study was to investigate if the increase of oxidative stress in OSAS patients can induce also MtDNA alterations. Methods: 46 OSAS patients (age 59.27 ± 11.38; BMI 30.84 ± 3.64; AHI 36.63 ± 24.18) were compared with 36 control subjects (age 54.42 ± 6.63; BMI 29.06 ± 4.7; AHI 3.8 ± 1.10). In blood cells the content of MtDNA and nuclear DNA (nDNA) was measured in OSAS patients by Real Time PCR. The ratio between MtDNA/nDNA was then calculated. The presence of oxidative stress was evaluated by levels of Reactive Oxygen Metabolites (ROMs), measured by diacron reactive oxygen metabolite test (d-ROM test). Results: MtDNA/nDNA was higher in patients with OSAS than in the control group (150.94 ± 49.14 vs 128.96 ± 45.8; p = 0.04), the levels of ROMs were also higher in OSAS subjects (329.71 ± 70.17 vs 226.0 ± 36.76; p = 0.04) and they were positively correlated with MtDNA/nDNA (R = 0.5, p < 0.01). Conclusions: In OSAS patients there is a Mitochondrial DNA damage induced by the increase of oxidative stress. Intermittent hypoxia seems to be the main mechanism which leads to this process.

Thesis (MSc (Physiological Sciences))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006.
This study aimed to assess the effect of mild psychological stress in male Wistar rats using incremental, intermittent stress on parameters of atrophy, including body mass, soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle mass, and mechanisms possibly contributing to atrophy. Serum corticosterone concentrations, 20s proteasome activity, glutamine synthetase (GS) and tyrosine amino-transferase (TAT) activities were determined. I also assessed whether Sutherlandia (Su) or resistance exercise was able to reverse the effects of stress on any of these parameters.

Stress fractures (SFx) result from repetitive cyclical loading of bone. They are frequent athletic injuries and underlie atypical femoral fractures following long-term bisphosphonate (BP) therapy. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and BPs, including Alendronate (ALN), have opposing effects on bone dynamics. ALN is an antiresorptive agent that decreases bone turnover, and with prolonged doses of BP the healing of SFxs is delayed. The extent to which intermittent PTH (iPTH) remains effective in the treatment of SFx in the presence of an ongoing BP treatment has not been tested. Starting 24 hours after SFx induction, the effect of a single PTH injection, and daily iPTH injections for 14 days, on the healing of SFx in the rat ulna was investigated. SFx was induced in 330 female Wistar rats (300 +- 15 g) during a single loading session. In the single PTH injection experiment, rats were divided into two groups (n=60). A single PTH (8 μg/100g) or vehicle (VEH) saline injection was administered 24 hours after loading. Ulnae were examined 1, 2, 6 or 10 weeks following SFx.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School of Medical Science
Griffith Health
Full Text

This thesis demonstrates how the intermittent nature of seasonal tropical fresh waters facilitates and impedes the dispersal of fish and how the variability among residual dry season pools affects the dynamics of isolated populations. I focused on the seasonal ecology of Poecilia gillii from pools in a steep gradient, intermittent stream in Costa Rica. Water temperature and dissolved oxygen concentration were affected by season, by between-pool differences, and by the interaction between seasonal and spatial influences. Seasonal flooding resulted in a catastrophic loss of fish from most pools. Population loss was influenced by the susceptibility of the pools to flooding and population density, with mortality occurring primarily in nearby desiccating "graveyard" pools. Pools increased in population size and density over the 5-month post-flood study period, and their densities converged to their pre-flood values. Variability in the rate of increase among pools was related to water quality and population density. Striking changes in the size and abundance of males over the season suggest social influences on maturation in Poecilia gillii.

Intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES) are watercourses that naturally and periodically cease to flow. They represent more than half of the global river network and are expanding due to global change. In this thesis, I investigate the mechanisms linking flow intermittence with biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, which sustain biogeochemical cycles and energy transfer in the system. Chapter 1 analyzes the effects of hydrology, micro-habitat (surface and subsurface zones) and biotic features on organic matter decomposition and fungal biomass, in 20 streams. In Chapter 2, I assess the effect of different flow intermittence metrics (i.e., annual intermittence regime and recent aquatic status) on aquatic biodiversity, including both taxonomic and functional-trait-based metrics, in 33 streams. Chapter 3 analyzes how aquatic hyphomycete richness and composition (beta diversity and its turnover and nestedness components) are affected by a flow intermittence gradient and how these community changes affect organic matter decomposition, in 15 streams and in a microcosm approach. Finally, in Chapter 4, I explore how changes in both leaf litter quality and quantity determine the feeding preferences and growth of an invertebrate shredder. The results of Chapter 1 show that the subsurface zone contributes to maintaining microbial decomposition during non-flow periods in IRES, mainly because of the levels of fungal biomass present in the subsurface zone. In Chapter 2, I conclude that a combination of flow intermittence metrics are needed to explain the high dynamism of the invertebrate community in IRES and potentially ecosystem functioning. Moreover, this chapter shows that hydrological variables outweigh non-hydrological factors in explaining invertebrate community variation, thereby supporting the use of the former in IRES classification and bio-monitoring routines. Chapter 3 reveals that the reduction of aquatic hyphomycete richness and species turnover as a result of flow intermittence, could have negative effects on organic matter decomposition. Finally, in Chapter 4, I provide evidence on how flow intermittence reduces the quality of leaf litter, in terms of fungal richness and composition, fungal biomass and lipid content. These changes in food quality influence the consumption rates and growth of shredders, which are able to feed selectively on higher quality leaves, even though its availability is lower. Taken together, these results will help to improve the biomonitoring and management of IRES and to a better prediction of ecosystem trajectories in response to global change.

Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) has a major morbidity and mortality in the general population. The spectrum of PVD ranges from intermittent claudication to critical limb ischaemia. There is a high prevalence of intermittent claudication in the general population, however only five to ten percent will progress to more severe disease. The progression of disease is at present unpredictable. There is a growing awareness that patients with intermittent claudication may have differing propensities for developing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the endothelial response to exercise in the macro and microcirculation and correlate this with plasma inflammatory cytokine levels, plasma oxidative state and a marker of acute kidney injury in patients with peripheral vascular disease and healthy controls. This information may lead to a new screening test for patients with an increased risk of disease progression who once identified could be better managed to reduce their risk. Furthermore potential new cytokine targets for halting disease progression and potential treatment will be investigated.

The purposes of this study were 1) to investigate the release of cardiac biomarkers resulting from acute bouts of maximal intermittent exercise in a laboratory-based setting and set up an exercise-induced cardiac biomarker release (EICBR) model; 2) to compare the changes in cardiac biomarkers in normoxic and hypoxic environments and determine the effects of hypoxia; 3) to investigate the changes in oxidative stress biomarkers resulting from acute bouts of maximal intermittent exercise in normoxic and hypoxic environments at multiple time points; and 4) to observe the relationship between oxidative stress and EICBR and explore the hypothesis that lipid peroxidation triggers the release of cardiac biomarkers from the cytosolic pool. The maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and the corresponding velocity of VO2max (vVO2max) of ten well-trained male marathon runners (age 22.1±2.6 y, body mass 64.0±4.9 kg and height 177.3±3.9 cm) was determined under normoxic (FIO2=21.0%, VO2max_N=64.72±5.63 ml∙kg-1∙min-1 and vVO2max_N=18.2±1.0 km∙h-1) and hypoxic (FIO2=14.4%, VO2max_H=62.16±6.74 ml∙kg-1∙min-1 and vVO2max_H=16.7±0.7 km∙h-1) conditions in two experimental trials. One set of conditions was tested in each trial. The order in which each participant faced each trial was selected at random and the trials were separated by 72 h. The ten participants also completed three maximal intermittent exercise protocols, under normoxic (trial N, FIO2=21.0%), absolutely hypoxic (trial AH, FIO2=14.4%) and relatively hypoxic (trial RH, FIO2=14.4%) conditions. The order in which the participants faced the three conditions was once again selected at random and the protocols were separated by at least 7 d. Each bout of maximal intermittent exercise in trials N and AH consisted of a hard run of 16.4±0.9 km∙h-1 (90% vVO2max_N) for 2 min, followed by an easy run of 9.1±0.5 km∙h-1 (50% vVO2max_N) for 2 min with a 2% slope. In trial RH, each bout of exercise consisted of a hard run of 15.0±0.6 km∙h-1 (90% vVO2max_H) for 2 min, followed by an easy run of 8.4±0.3 km∙h-1 (50% vVO2max_H) for 2 min with a 2% slope. Each of the three trials consisted of 23 bouts of maximal intermittent exercise, performed over 92 min. Measurements of the serum of the antecubital venous blood were performed pre- and post- (0 h, 2 h, 4 h and 24 h) exercise. The measurements were taken at five time points for each of the three conditions. The cardiac damage biomarkers of high sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and the oxidative stress biomarkers of malondialdehyde (MDA), lipid hydroperoxide (LH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) were analysed. Heart rate (HR) and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) were recorded before and during exercise. Due to the skewed distribution of the data (P<0.05), a non-parametric Friedman’s test was used to compare the differences in the levels of hs-cTnT and cTnI between pre- and post-exercise and at each time point for the three conditions. MDA, LH, SOD, CAT, GSH, TAOC and HR were normally distributed (P>0.05) and were analysed using one-way repeated ANOVA tests. Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficients were used to determine the degree of association between the peak levels of hs-cTnT and cTnI, and MDA, LH, SOD, CAT, GSH and TAOC. In trial N, the level of hs-cTnT was elevated 0 h post-exercise (9.628±3.797 pg∙ml-1 was significantly different from the pre-exercise level of 5.118±1.857 pg∙ml-1, P=0.005), reached its peak level 2 h post-exercise (24.290±18.628 pg∙ml-1 was significantly different from the pre-exercise level, P=0.005) and returned to the baseline level at 24 h post-exercise (5.978±1.849 pg∙ml-1). The peak levels of hs-cTnT (N, AH 37.001±31.995 pg∙ml-1, RH 28.614±23.628 pg∙ml-1) and cTnI (N 0.0375±0.0437 ng∙ml-1, AH 0.0475±0.0533 ng∙ml-1, RH 0.0345±0.0375 ng∙ml-1) did not significantly differ under the three conditions. In trial AH, the peak levels of hs-cTnT (2 h, 4 h) and cTnI (2 h, 4 h) were highly related to the MDA_0h and the TAOC_24h. In trial RH, the peak levels of hs-cTnT (2 h, 4 h) and cTnI (2 h, 4 h) were highly related to the TAOC_4h. It was concluded that maximal intermittent exercise can be used to trigger EICBR. The stimulus of hypoxia did not induce more cardiac damage in this exercise model. Maximal intermittent exercise potentially triggers EICBR through oxidative stress, especially lipid peroxidation. Keywords: cardiac biomarkers, hs-cTnT, cTnI, oxidative stress, hypoxia

Adrenal gland, as an important effector tissue of the sympathetic nervous system, has critical roles in cardiovascular system under both chronic hypoxia (CH) and intermittent hypoxia (IH) conditions. Nitric oxide (NO), synthesized by nitric oxide synthases (NOS), is the most important intracellular signaling molecule, as well as free radical in response to hypoxia. Yet the regulation and effects of endogenous NO production mediated in the adrenal medulla induced by hypoxia remains largely unknown. We first studied how endogenous NO production were regulated by different NOS in rat adrenal medulla in response to CH or IH. After CH, elevated levels of endogenous NO production, eNOS expression, and apoptotic chromaffin cells were observed in the adrenal medulla. However, a remarkable decreased endogenous NO production and nNOS expression were shown in the IH-treated adrenal medulla. These results suggested that, in the rat adrenal medulla, the elevation of NO production through increased protein level of eNOS may play a protective role in the adaptive response to CH; the reduction of NO production through decreased expression of nNOS is important for the pathophysiological response to IH. The oxidative stress and cellular injury in the adrenal medulla under chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) condition is undefined. We tested the hypothesis that melatonin, a potent antioxidant, is protective against CIH-induced oxidative stress and local inflammation in the rat adrenal medulla. Results showed that levels of oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and inflammatory mediators were significantly increased after CIH treatment. Also, the protein levels of antioxidant enzymes were significantly lowered in the hypoxic group. Co-treatment of melatonin with hypoxia significantly reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in the adrenal medulla. Moreover, the amount of apoptotic cells in the hypoxic groups was significantly less in the melatonin-treated group. Thus, melatonin may act as a protective agent against adrenal damages in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Previous studies have shown that CIH associated with recurrent apnea induced oxidative stress and pathophysiological changes in the cardiovascular system. Yet the mechanism of the CIH-induced oxidative stress and local inflammation in the adrenal medulla was undefined. We therefore determined whether the up-regulation of the expression of NADPH oxidase (NOX) mediated by renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may take part in the injuries caused by CIH in the rat adrenal medulla. We found that CIH treatment dramatically induced marker levels of adrenal oxidative stress, inflammation, macrophage infiltration, and apoptosis in rats. Co-treatment with NOX inhibitor, apocynin, counteracted such reactions. Furthermore, the mRNA levels of NOX subunits (p22PHOX, NOX2, and NOX4) and RAS components (ATG, AT1, and AT2) were increased significantly in the CIH group, but reduced in apocynin-treated CIH group, supporting the involvement of NOX and RAS in CIH-induced adrenal injury. In conclusion, we defined the roles of NO production, NOX, and RAS in the rat adrenal injury during hypoxic conditions. We also found that melatonin can protect adrenal medulla from hypoxia-induced damages in rat.
published_or_final_version
Physiology
Doctoral
Doctor of Philosophy

As dietas intermitentes (IF) compreendem ciclos alternados de 24 horas de jejum e alimentação. Como os efeitos de IF sobre o balanço redox não são bem conhecidos, esse trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar os efeitos desta dieta sobre o estado redox de diferentes tecidos de ratos. Após um mês de tratamento, os fígados dos ratos em IF apresentaram um aumento de capacidade respiratória mitocondrial juntamente com níveis elevados de proteínas carboniladas. Verificou-se ainda um aumento em danos oxidativos no cérebro destes animais. IF promoveu significativa proteção contra danos oxidativos no coração, enquanto que não houve alterações no estado redox do músculo esquelético. Os efeitos metabólicos de IF também foram investigados com o intuito de compreender os mecanismos envolvidos com o menor peso e a hiperfagia promovidos por esta intervenção. Observou-se que o menor peso dos ratos submetidos à IF é consequência de um aumento em taxas metabólicas em dias de alimentação somado à oxidação lipídica aumentada durante o jejum. A hiperfagia, por sua vez, é consequencia de elevação nos níveis de neurotransmissores orexigênicos hipotalâmicos, mesmo quando estes animais estão alimentados. Os níveis do neutransmissor TRH também foram modulados por esta dieta, o que pode estar relacionado com as alterações de taxas metabólicas observadas no modelo. Concluímos, portanto, que as dietas intermitentes promovem modificações funcionais no hipotálamo que estão associadas com diferenças no peso corpóreo e no apetite. Além disso, IF afeta o balanço redox de forma tecido específica, levando a um desbalanço oxidativo no fígado e no cérebro e à proteção contra danos oxidativos no coração.
Intermittent fasting (IF) is a dietary intervention that comprises 24 hour cycles alternating ad libitum feeding and fasting. We address here the effects of IF on redox state in different tissues, which are still poorly understood. After one month on the diet, IF rats livers presented increased mitochondrial respiratory capacity along with increased levels of protein carbonyls. Surprisingly, IF animals also presented an increase in oxidative damage in the brain. Conversely, IF promoted a substantial protection against oxidative damage in the heart. No difference in redox homeostasis was observed in the skeletal muscle. We also assessed metabolic effects of IF to uncover the mechanisms involved in the lower body mass and loss of feeding control in IF rats. As measured calorimetrically, IF animals presented high metabolic rates during feeding days and increased lipid oxidation on fasting days, which explains the lower body weight. IF-induced overeating was a consequence of increased expression of hypothalamic orexigenic neurotransmitters, even on feeding days. THR levels also were changed, in parallel with the feeding-dependent alterations on metabolic rates. Overall, we find that intermittent fasting promotes functional hypothalamic alterations associated with differences in body weight and appetite. In addition, IF affects redox balance in a tissue-specific manner, leading to redox imbalance in the liver and brain, as well as protection against oxidative damage in the heart

Invertebrate colonisation pathways were investigated in relation to a changing flow regime and seasonality in a stream with an intermittently flowing lower course at Cass, inland Canterbury. Benthic, drift, hyporheic and non-aquatic adult invertebrate faunas were sampled over a 12 month period, from November 1996 to November 1997. During this period, the stream channel in the lower, grassland reach dried up for three months, from late January to late April, and recolonisation of this reach was assessed following flow resumption. Colonisation pathways operating in both forest and grassland sections of the permanently flowing upper reach were also assessed. At the perennially flowing forested and grassland sites, invertebrate drift, oviposition by flying adult insects, and vertical migration from the hyporheos all contributed to colonisation of the benthos. Assemblages of invertebrates using the three pathways and the two riparian biotopes (forest and grassland) differed to varying degrees, with drift and flight activity of potential colonists being greatest during summer. Invertebrate drift from the perennially flowing upper reaches and oviposition by flying adults appeared to be the main sources of colonists of the intermittent grassland reach when flow resumed in autumn following a three month dry period. The hyporheic zone was of limited importance as a refuge when the channel dried up, since subsurface water disappeared rapidly following the loss of surface flow. Recolonisation of the benthos was gradual, as both drift and ovipositing adults contributed relatively low numbers of colonists in late autumn and winter. Local conditions, particularly substratum type (which affects hyporheic drainage) and proximity to permanent water bodies (sources of colonists), were important determinants of the colonisation pathways used by invertebrates following flow resumption in the intermittent reach. It will be important to take such local factors into consideration when making predictions about recolonisation pathways operating in other New Zealand streams and rivers.

Le syndrome d’apnées obstructives du sommeil (SAOS) est un problème de santé publique majeure affectant 6-13% de la population d’âge moyen. Des études épidémiologiques et l’accumulation de données cliniques ont montré que le SAOS joue un rôle important dans l’initiation et la progression des pathologies cardiovasculaires (CV) comme l’infarctus du myocarde (IM). Les patients hospitalisés post-IM présentent une prévalence pour le SAOS de l’ordre de 50%. De plus, le SAOS augmente la vulnérabilité du cœur à l’infarctus, ce qui se traduit par une taille d’IM plus grande, une ischémie myocardique prolongée, et une aggravation des évènements cardiovasculaires au long-terme, prédisposant les patients apnéiques à des infarctus surnuméraires, à l’insuffisance cardiaque (IC) et au décès. Il semble donc important de comprendre précisément les mécanismes impliqués dans cette susceptibilité accrue à l’ischémie myocardique afin de proposer de nouvelles cibles thérapeutiques et améliorer la prise en charge du risque CV chez les patients apnéiques. L’hypoxie intermittente chronique (HI) est le substrat physiopathologique majeur des complications CV du SAOS via l’activation de mécanismes physiopathologiques variés, tels que l’inflammation, le stress oxydant ou encore l’activation sympathique. Ce travail de thèse avait pour but de 1) caractériser la réponse aigue et chronique à l’IM chez des animaux exposés à l’HI, 2) de disséquer les mécanismes cellulaires impliqués dans la susceptibilité accrue à l’IM chez ces mêmes animaux.Nos travaux ont confirmé que l’HI induit une majoration de la taille d’infarctus suite à un évènement ischémique aigue et aggrave le remodelage cardiaque et la dysfonction contractile dans un modèle de cardiopathie ischémique chronique chez le rat. Nous avons également mis en évidence que l’HI induisait dans ce contexte une hyperactivation sympathique persistante, un stress du RE proapoptotique et l’activation du facteur de transcription HIF-1 contribuant à l’augmentation de la vulnérabilité du cœur à l’infarctus et l’aggravation post-IM des complications cardiaques au long-terme. Ces différents facteurs pourraient représenter des biomarqueurs intéressants pour prédire le risque CV chez les patients apnéiques sévères et pourraient être considérés comme des pistes thérapeutiques potentielles pour améliorer la prise en charge des patients SAOS à haut risque CV
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) is a common disease that affects 6-13% of the middle-aged population. Epidemiological and clinical data support the notion that OSA has a role in the initiation or progression of several cardiovascular (CV) diseases, including myocardial infarction (MI). Indeed, patients hospitalized with acute MI present high prevalence for OSA. Furthermore, OSA is known to major infarct size in patients that persists over time and aggravates long-term adverse events post-MI, as reinfarction, heart failure (HF) and death. OSA is characterized by intermittent hypoxia (IH) which results in desaturation-reoxygenation sequences and appears to be the major consequence of OSA in term of cardiovascular alterations associated with apneas. However, the mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, the understanding of pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in cardiac disorders is a research priority for OSA in order to develop new therapeutic targets and improve the management of CV risk in apneic patients. There are growing evidences suggesting a major role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and HIF-1 activation in the vulnerability to acute ischemic events and in long-term adverse complications associated with prolonged MI. Furthermore, the progression of ischemic cardiomyopathy following MI is also associated with activation of the sympathetic nervous system which substantially contributes to cardiac alterations. Furthermore, these are three mechanisms known to be activated with IH. This project aimed 1) to assess the IH-induced acute and chronic cardiac alterations following MI, 2) to study the implication of cellular mechanisms involved in the adverse ischemic events related to OSA.We have shown that IH increases infarct size following acute MI and aggravates cardiac remodeling and contractile dysfunction in a rat model of chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy. In these contexts, IH is associated with a sympathetic over activity, a proapoptotic ER stress and the activation of HIF-1, which substantially contribute to increased heart vulnerability to infarction and worsening of long-term heart complications post-MI. These different factors may represent interesting biomarkers for predicting CV risk in severe apneic patients and may be considered as potential therapeutic targets to improve the management of OSA patients with high CV risks

This thesis is a study of how environmental heating affects elite strength and power athletes in resistance exercise sessions. It examines how different combinations of temperature, modes of heating, and different exercises may result in different outcomes in muscular performance, hormone responses, athlete perceptions, and bodily responses. It is shown that intermittent heating at 32 °C may enhance squat exercise outcomes, with important implications for selecting environments to optimise outcomes from a resistance exercise session.

Le syndrome d'apnées obstructives du sommeil (SAOS) est connu pour être un facteur de risque indépendant de l'insuffisance coronarienne aiguë. Chez le rat, l'hypoxie intermittente (HI) aiguë ou chronique augmente la sensibilité du cœur à l'infarctus. En effet, l'exposition à l'HI (FiO2 5%) de 4 h ou de 14 jours aggrave les lésions myocardiques induites par une ischémie-reperfusion (I/R). Le but de ce travail est de déterminer si des agents connus pour leurs propriétés anti-ischémiques peuvent prévenir les conséquences cardiovasculaires délétères de l'HI chez le rat. Ainsi les effets de l'érythropoïétine (EPO), la trimétazidine (TMZ), le tempol et la mélatonine sur la cardiosensiblisation induite par l'HI ont été étudiés. L'administration d'EPO exogène immédiatement avant ou après une I/R empêche l'aggravation de l'infarctus induite par l'IH aiguë dans le cœur isolé de rat. Le tempol et la mélatonine préviennent également les effets délétères de l'HI via leurs propriétés antioxydantes. L'administration concomitante à une HI chronique de 14 jours de l'un de ces agents permet de réduire significativement l'aggravation de l'infarctus et l'élévation de la pression artérielle moyenne. De plus, le traitement par le tempol abolit la génération d'ion superoxyde (O2.-) et la surexpression de la sous-unité p47-phox de la NADPH oxydase, suggérant le rôle du stress oxydant dans les effets cardiovasculaires délétères de l'HI chez le rat. En revanche, la trimétazidine administrée durant les 14 jours d'HI n'a pas d'effet significatif, suggérant que l'action anti-ischémique de la TMZ ne peut compenser les effets de l'HI. Des études complémentaires sont nécessaires pour explorer les mécanismes impliqués dans la cardiosensibilisation et en particulier le rôle exact du stress oxydant. Ainsi, de nouvelles perspectives cliniques et thérapeutiques basées sur ces études pourraient être envisagées dans le SAOS.

Le syndrome d’apnées obstructives du sommeil (SAOS) est un problème de santé publique majeur qui est considéré comme un facteur indépendant de risque de survenue d’un infarctus du myocarde (IM). Les altérations cardiovasculaires associées au SAOS sont principalement dues à l’hypoxie intermittente (HI) chronique. En particulier, l’HI induit l’activation du facteur de transcription hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), susceptible d’être impliqué dans la vulnérabilité accrue du myocarde à l’ischémie-reperfusion. L’objectif de cette thèse était d’étudier le rôle de HIF-1 dans les mécanismes induits par l’HI et impliqués dans l’augmentation de la taille de l’infarctus suite à une ischémie-reperfusion. Ces travaux ont mis en évidence deux nouveaux effets délétères de l’HI, à savoir l’induction d’un stress du réticulum endoplasmique (RE) et d’altérations mitochondriales. A travers, l’inhibition génétique et/ou pharmacologique de HIF-1, nous avons montré que HIF-1 apparaît comme un acteur primordial dans l’ensemble des mécanismes délétères de l’HI, incluant ceux découverts lors de cette thèse. De plus, HIF-1 joue un rôle majeur dans l’augmentation de la taille de l’IM induite par l’HI chronique. Parallèlement, son activation myocardique est corrélée à l’index d’apnées-hypopnées chez des patients apnéiques atteints d’une maladie coronarienne (comparativement aux non-apnéiques). Par conséquent, l’activation de HIF-1 pourrait être utilisée comme marqueur diagnostic du SAOS chez les patients à risque cardiovasculaire. HIF-1 pourrait également représenter une cible pour le développement de nouvelles thérapies complémentaires ou substitutives aux traitements actuels
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a major public health problem that is considered an independent risk factor for the occurrence of myocardial infarction (MI). The cardiovascular alterations associated with OSA are mainly due to the chronic intermittent hypoxia (IH). In particular, activation by IH, the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) transcription factor likely contributes to enhance myocardial vulnerability to ischemia-reperfusion injury. The aim of this thesis was to study the role of HIF-1 in the mechanisms involved in the increase in MI induced by chronic IH. This work has highlighted two new deleterious consequences of IH exposure, namely endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and mitochondrial alterations. Through genetic and/or pharmacological inhibition of HIF-1, we have shown that HIF-1 appears to be a primordial actor in all the deleterious mechanisms of IH, including those discovered during this thesis. HIF-1 also appears to play a major role in the IH-induced increase in MI size. In parallel, its myocardial activation is correlated with the apnea-hypopnea index in apnoeic, compared to non-apnoeic, patients with coronary heart disease. Therefore, HIF-1 activation could serve as a diagnostic marker of OSA in patients with cardiovascular risk. HIF 1 could also be a target for new therapeutic approaches, in complement or replacement of standard treatments

Le syndrome d’apnées obstructives du sommeil (SAOS) est associé à une forte morbi-mortalité cardiovasculaire. L’hypoxie intermittente (HI), conséquence majeure des apnées, est à l’origine d’un stress oxydant, d’une activation de HIF-1 (hypoxia inducible factor 1) et d’une expression d’endothéline (ET-1), tous impliqués dans les complications cardiovasculaires liées à l’HI.Dans un premier temps, nous avons démontré que l’HI augmentait l’incidence des arythmies ventriculaires létales associées à l’ischémie myocardique. Parmi les mécanismes potentiels impliqués, l’analyse spectrale de la variabilité de la fréquence cardiaque et de la pression artérielle et le dosage des catécholamines ont mis en évidence une activation sympathique chez les animaux exposés à l’HI. L’HI est également à l’origine d’altérations de la repolarisation ventriculaire (allongement du QTc et du Tpeak-Tend) et d’une dispersion du gradient transmural (allongement de la durée du potentiel d’action endocardique) associées à une augmentation de l’expression de canaux calciques de type LTCC et TRPC dans l’endocarde.Dans la seconde partie de ce travail de thèse, nous nous sommes intéressés aux perturbations de l’homéostasie du zinc en réponse au stress oxydant causé par l’ischémie-reperfusion (IR) ou par l’HI et aux propriétés cardioprotectives de la supplémentation en zinc dans ce contexte. Nous avons montré que l’IR et l’HI induisaient une diminution des concentrations de zinc myocardiques et plasmatiques, respectivement. Nous avons mis en évidence les effets bénéfiques de la supplémentation en zinc vis-à-vis des arythmies ventriculaires et des altérations myocardiques induites par l’IR. L’administration de zinc lors de la reperfusion a également permis d’abolir l’augmentation de la taille d’infarctus induite par l’exposition chronique à l’HI.Finalement, nous avons étudié les effets de la déplétion en zinc sur des cellules endothéliales à l’aide d’un chélateur spécifique du zinc, le TPEN. Nous avons observé que l’exposition des cellules au TPEN entraînait une translocation nucléaire de HIF-1α et une augmentation de la sécrétion d’ET-1 avec, comme conséquence, une augmentation de la capacité migratoire des cellules endothéliales. Ainsi, une déplétion en zinc semble conduire à une activation de l’axe HIF-1-ET-1 connu pour ses effets délétères lors de l’HI.En résumé, l’exposition chronique à l’HI exacerbe les arythmies et augmente la taille d’infarctus lors de l’IR. L’activation sympathique, le stress oxydant et l’altération de l’homéostasie du zinc pourraient être impliqués. L’utilisation d’outils pharmacologiques permettrait de confirmer leur rôle et potentiellement de prévenir les altérations cardiovasculaires liées à l’HI et au SAOS
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Intermittent hypoxia (IH), one of the major consequences of apneas, leads to oxidative stress, activation of HIF-1 (hypoxia inducible factor 1) and endothelin (ET-1) expression, all known to play an important role in the cardiovascular consequences of OSA.First, we have demonstrated that IH increases the incidence of ischemia-related lethal ventricular arrhythmias. Among the potential mechanisms involved, spectral analysis of heart rate and blood pressure variability and catecholamine assay, showed a sympathetic activation in animals exposed to IH. IH was also responsible for alterations in ventricular repolarisation (increased QTc and Tpeak-Tend intervals) and dispersion of the transmural gradient (increased endocardial action potential duration). These alterations were associated with increased expression of endocardial LTCC and TRPC calcium channels.The second part of the thesis aimed at investigating zinc homeostasis in response to the oxidative stress induced by ischemia-reperfusion (IR) or IH as well as the beneficial effects of zinc supplementation in this context. We observed that IR and IH induced a decrease in myocardial and plasma zinc concentrations, respectively. We also highlighted the protective effects of zinc supplementation during reperfusion against the ventricular arrhythmias and myocardial dysfunction induced by IR. Zinc administration during reperfusion also abolished the increase in infarct size induced by chronic IH exposure.Finally, we investigated the effects of zinc depletion in endothelial cells exposed to TPEN, a specific zinc chelator. We observed that TPEN induced a nuclear translocation of HIF-1α and an increase in ET-1 secretion with a resulting increase in endothelial cell migration. Thus, zinc depletion appears to promote activation of the HIF-1-ET-1 axis, known for its deleterious effects upon IH.In summary, chronic IH exposure enhances ventricular arrhythmias and increases infarct size upon myocardial I/R. Sympathetic activation, oxidative stress and alterations of zinc homeostasis appear to be contributing factors. Pharmacological targeting of these alterations should be performed in order to confirm their role as well as to potentially prevent the deleterious cardiovascular consequences of IH and OSA

Measurements of the small-scale dissipation statistics of turbulent boundary layer flows with and without free-stream turbulence are reported for Reτ ≈ 1000 (Reθ ≈ 2000). The scaling of the dissipation scale distribution is examined in these two boundary conditions of external wall-bounded flow. Results demonstrated that the local large-scale Reynolds number based on the measured longitudinal integral length-scale fails to properly normalize the dissipation scale distribution near the wall in these two free-stream conditions, due to the imperfect characterization of the upper bound of the inertial cascade by the integral length-scale. When a length-scale based on Townsend's attached-eddy hypothesis is utilized to describe the local large-scale Reynolds number near the wall, the description of the Reynolds number scaling was determined to be significantly improved and agreed with that found in homogeneous, isotropic turbulence. However, the scaling based on Townsend's attached-eddy hypothesis agreed best for the lowest 40% of the boundary layer thickness and then it degraded due to the loss of the validity of the attached eddy-hypothesis and the onset of external intermittency. A surrogate large-scale found from turbulent kinetic energy and mean dissipation rate improved the scaling of the dissipation scales, relative to the measured integral length-scale. The probability density functions of the local dissipation scales were calculated. When the three local large-scale Reynolds numbers are used for normalization, the one based on the longitudinal integral length-scale and the one based on the length-scale of attached-eddy hypothesis provide support for the existence of a universal distribution of the local dissipation scales up to the edge of the outer region of the turbulent boundary layer, which scales differently for inner and outer regions. However, the probability density functions of the local dissipation scales normalized by these two large-scale Reynolds numbers are deviated in interface locations for the flow without free-stream turbulence due to external intermittency. The surrogate large-scale provided the best agreement throughout the entire depth of the boundary layer. However, in the outer part of the boundary layer, a significantly reduced collapse in the scaled probability density functions was shown due to bias in the calculation introduced by the intermittent presence of laminar flow in the time series. To support that intermittency argument, injection of the free-stream turbulence was determined to improve the distribution of these normalized probability density functions in the intermittency locations for the flow regime without free-stream turbulence. In addition, unlike in channel flow, in the outer part of the turbulent boundary layer, the normalized distributions of the local dissipation scales were observed to be dependent on wall-normal position. This was found to be attributable to the presence of external intermittency in this outer part as the presence of free-stream turbulence was found to restore the scaling behavior by replacing the intermittent laminar flow with turbulent flow. Thus, the influence of external intermittency on the scaling of the dissipation scale distribution was examined in greater detail for the laminar free-stream condition. Probability density functions of the dissipative scales were compared with, and without, accounting for the external intermittency using an intermittency detection function. Results showed that accounting for the external intermittency produces restores universality in the shapes of the probability density functions at the same wall-normal location at different instances in time. In addition, properly scaling the dissipation-scale-distribution collapses the probability density functions calculated at different wall-normal locations. This improvement in the scaling of the dissipation-scale-distribution supports prior observations of universality of the small-scale description of the turbulence for wall-bounded flow.

A dieta intermitente (DI) estimula mecanismos de defesa do organismo, tornando-o mais resistente a estímulos tóxicos. A DI parece atuar em vias associadas à resposta inflamatória, autofagia, sobrevivência celular e aumenta a resistência contra estresse oxidativo. No entanto, pouco se sabe sobre o papel dos receptores TLR4 e TLR2 nos efeitos da DI. Este trabalho avaliou a influência do TLR4 e TLR2 nos efeitos da DI sobre a memória e a sinalização associada aos fatores de transcrição NF-κB, NRF2 e FOXO em camundongos nocaute para TLR4 ou TLR2. Os resultados sugerem que o TLR4 e TLR2 participam da modulação pela DI dos níveis de estresse oxidativo, biomarcadores periféricos e do NF-κB, CREB, AP1, NRF2, além das proteínas moduladas por esses fatores de transcrição como o BDNF, HO1, enzimas antioxidantes, chaperonas e citocinas. Esses resultados permitem um maior entendimento dos processos fisiológicos que visam o desenvolvimento de novas intervenções farmacológicas para a promoção da longevidade, envelhecimento saudável e o tratamento de distúrbios neurodegenerativos.
Intermittent fasting (IF) stimulates the body\'s defense mechanisms, making it more resistant to toxic stimuli. IF seems to act by mechanisms associated with cell survival, autophagy, inflammation and enhancing oxidative stress resistance, thereby involving the modulation of transcription factors. However, little is known about the involvement of TLR4 and TLR2 on IF effects. The present work investigated the influence of TLR2 and TLR4 on IF effects on memory and on signaling mechanisms associated with the transcription factors NF-κB, NRF2 and FOXO in TLR2 KO or TLR4 KO mice. The results suggest that TLR4 and TLR2 participate in the effects of IF on oxidative stress levels, peripheral biomarkers, and on NF-κB, CREB, AP1 and NRF2, as well as proteins modulated by these transcription factors such as BDNF, HO1, antioxidant enzymes, chaperones and cytokines. These results allow a better understanding of physiological processes that aim at developing new pharmacological interventions to promote longevity, healthy aging, and the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Un paradigme émergent prédit que les perturbations influencent les processus qui déterminent l'organisation des communautés. L'assèchement des rivières (disparition complète d'eau de surface pour une durée déterminée) est une perturbation naturelle affectant les cours d'eau dans de nombreuses régions du monde. De plus en plus de cours d'eau pérenne s'assèchent en réponse aux changements globaux. Toutefois, l'effet de ces assèchements sur les communautés aquatiques et les processus impliqués dans leur résilience restent mal quantifié et mal compris. A travers quatre études allant de suivis de terrain à des expérimentations in-situ et des mésocosmes en laboratoire, une résilience exceptionnelle des communautés d'invertébrés a été mesurée dans huit rivières alluviales. La zone hyporhéique semble être la principale source de recolonisation expliquant la forte résilience de ces communautés. En laboratoire, l'augmentation de la température et de la compétition intra-spécifique entraine une migration de Gammarus pulex dans la zone hyporhéique. L'augmentation de la profondeur de la zone hyporhéique lors d'assèchements pourrait réduire la résilience et avoir des effets sur les fonctions de l'écosystème (décomposition de litière). Ces résultats montrent que les assèchements n'ont pas toujours des effets sévères sur les communautés d'invertébrés des rivières alluviales qui semblent même très résilientes. La zone hyporhéique joue un rôle primordial dans la résilience des communautés des cours d'eau. Un accent devrait être mis sur la protection de la zone hyporhéique dans les rivières alluviales afin de préserver cette capacité de résilience face aux changements globaux
Understanding community response to disturbance is essential to identifying processes that determine their assembly and to predicting the future effects of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Drying (complete loss of surface water) is a natural disturbance affecting 50% of rivers worldwide and is occurring more in perennial rivers due to climate change. However, its effects on aquatic invertebrate communities and the underlying processes contributing to their resilience (i.e. return to pre-drying or undisturbed levels) have not been well quantified. Using 4 congruous field and mesocosm experiments to quantify community resilience and identify its primary sources in environmentally harsh alluvial rivers. First, I found communities in 8 alluvial rivers were highly resilient to moderate and severe drying. Second, I showed that the hyporheic zone (saturated interstitial sediments) can be the primary source of colonists, promoting high community resilience. Third, I found high water temperature and intraspecific competition caused Gammarus pulex, a common benthic detritivore, to migrate into the hyporheic zone. Fourth, I found increasing depth to the water table diminished the hyporheic zone’s role as a source of colonists by reducing survival of G. pulex. My results support an emerging concept that harsh ecosystems are highly resilient and indicate that the effects of drying on biodiversity and ecosystem functions could vary across river systems. In alluvial rivers, the hyporheic zone can contribute strongly to community resilience and management should focus on protecting and restoring vertical connectivity to maximize resilience to climate change